The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has announced new MOT rules that will come into effect from Friday, January 9, 2026. The changes will affect MOT testers and authorised examiner principals (AEPs) across the UK.
What’s changing with MOT rules
From January, any MOT tester or AEP who receives a two-year or five-year cessation will be banned from holding any MOT roles for that entire period.
At the moment, some people can still be linked to MOT roles while serving a suspension – but that will no longer be allowed.
If an AEP runs a single test centre that’s been given a ban, or all their test sites are under a ban, they won’t be allowed to have any MOT involvement until the full cessation has ended.
Why the MOT rules are changing from 2026
The DVSA’s latest move comes as part of broader reforms designed to reduce abuse of the MOT system and strengthen public trust in the process. The agency has previously trialled measures aimed at preventing fraudulent activity including a new photography requirement for testers, due to expand nationally in 2025.
Under that scheme, MOT testers must capture and upload a photo of the vehicle being tested to its online record via the GOV.UK portal. This initiative targets so-called “ghost MOTs” where certificates are issued without a genuine inspection, and is expected to provide stronger evidence trails for both testing stations and motorists.
Currently, all vehicles over three years old must undergo an MOT test every year at an authorised centre. The inspection checks a car’s roadworthiness, technical standards, and environmental performance.
Drivers found to be operating vehicles without a valid MOT can face fines and potential legal penalties.
Announcing the new rules, the DVSA said: “This special notice tells you about how testers and authorised examiner principals (AEP) will not be able to hold any MOT roles following a 2 or 5 year cessation from 9 January 2026.”