Buy and manage MOT slots for your MOT testing business
How to buy MOT slots so your business can record MOT test results, including managing your account and getting refunds.
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
You have to pay the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) for each passed MOT test your business records on the MOT testing service.
You do this by buying MOT test slots in advance. You use one slot for each pass that’s recorded.
The slots can be used by any MOT centre in your business.
Who can buy MOT slots
To buy slots, you need to be either the:
- authorised examiner designated manager (AEDM) – the person who oversees the management, operation and quality of all MOTs in the business
- authorised examiner delegate (AED) – a person who helps the AEDM with managing MOT testing
Buy MOT slots
You can:
- set up a Direct Debit to buy a set amount of slots each month (you can change the amount if you need to)
- buy slots as and when you need them by debit card, credit card, cheque or postal order
You can buy 25 to 125,000 slots per transaction.
Each slot costs £2.05. VAT is not charged on MOT slots.
Set up a Direct Debit
You can set up a Direct Debit to automatically buy a set amount of slots each month.
You can choose for the payment to be taken on the 5th or 20th day of each month.
You must be authorised to set up a Direct Debit on the account you want to use. Contact your bank if you’re not sure you are authorised to set up a Direct Debit from your bank account.
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Sign in to the MOT testing service.
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Select your business name, for example ‘John Smith Motors Ltd’.
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Select Set up Direct Debit under the Buy slots button.
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Follow the instructions to set up your Direct Debit.
It can take up to 5 working days for the new slots to be added to your account when you pay by Direct Debit.
Change how many slots you buy
You can change the amount of slots you buy by Direct Debit in the MOT testing service. You need to change the amount at least 10 working days before your next monthly payment is due.
Pay by debit or credit card
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Sign in to the MOT testing service.
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Select your business name, for example, ‘John Smith Motors Ltd’.
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Select the Buy slots button.
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Follow the instructions to buy slots with a debit or credit card.
It can take up to 30 minutes for the new slots to be added to your account when you pay by debit or credit card.
Pay by cheque or postal order
You can pay by cheque or postal order if you cannot pay by card or Direct Debit.
Download, fill in and print the .
Send the form with a cheque or postal order made payable to DVSA.
Cash Management Team
DVSA
The Ellipse
Padley Road
Swansea
SA1 8AN
Monitor your MOT slot usage
When you sign in to the MOT testing service you can:
- see your overall slot balance across your MOT testing business
- see your transaction history – how many slots you have bought and which payment method you used
- monitor how many slots each MOT centre has used
Get a refund
You can apply for a refund and to reduce your MOT slot balance if:
- you’ve bought too many MOT slots
- your balance is too high
There’s a different process to get a refund if you’re closing an MOT centre.
You’ll need your MOT testing business’ authorisation number (called an Authorised Examiner ID).
What happens next
If you paid by:
- debit or credit card, you’ll get a refund to the card within 5 working days
- Direct Debit, you’ll get a refund by cheque within 14 working days
- cheque or postal order, you’ll get a refund by cheque within 14 working days
Get help buying slots
Contact the MOT testing service desk to get help buying MOT slots or getting a refund.
MOT testing service desk
Telephone: 0330 123 5654
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (excluding public holidays)
Find out about call charges