MOT Tester Jobs

The MOT Tester holds one of the most regulated and individually accountable technical authorisations in the UK automotive sector. Issued directly by the DVSA following completion of an approved training programme and assessment, MOT Tester authorisation grants the individual the legal right to conduct official MOT tests at an authorised test station - and with that authorisation comes a personal professional responsibility that no other automotive technical qualification quite matches.

Every MOT test result is issued in the tester's own name, linked to their unique tester number and audited by the DVSA through the MOT testing service database. An MOT Tester who issues an incorrect pass - whether through carelessness, external pressure or a genuine misidentification of a failure item - is personally accountable to the DVSA and risks suspension, prosecution and permanent loss of testing rights. That accountability is why MOT Testers with a consistent, clean testing record are valued by every employer who operates a DVSA authorised test station.

MOT Tester authorisation exists across multiple vehicle classes. Class 4 covers cars and light vehicles up to eight passenger seats. Class 5 covers larger passenger vehicles including minibuses and coaches. Class 7 covers goods vehicles between 3,000kg and 3,500kg design gross weight, covering the most common full-size vans. In practice, most tester roles in the automotive sector are Class 4 or Class 4 combined with Class 7. Class 5 is most relevant to bus, coach and minibus operators. Many MOT Testers are also qualified vehicle technicians who combine testing with workshop maintenance work.

Venatu recruits MOT Testers across all vehicle classes for permanent and contract roles at franchised car and van dealerships, independent garages, fast fit and tyre and service centres, fleet VMU operations and commercial vehicle workshops throughout the UK. This role sits within our car dealership and truck and van recruitment divisions.

Who We Recruit For

We place candidates with:

• Franchised car and van dealerships operating DVSA authorised test stations
• Independent garages and service centres operating Class 4 and Class 7 test lanes
• National and regional fast fit, tyre and autocentre groups
• Fleet VMU operations with in-house MOT testing capability
• Commercial vehicle workshops with Class 5 or Class 7 test station authorisation
• Bus, coach and PSV operators requiring Class 5 MOT testing capability
• Automotive groups seeking to add testers to support volume throughput expansion

Roles We Place

• MOT Tester (Class 4)
• MOT Tester (Class 4 and Class 7)
• MOT Tester (Class 5)
• MOT Tester (Class 5 and Class 7)
• MOT Tester and Vehicle Technician
• MOT Tester and Diagnostic Technician
• Authorised Examiner Designated Manager (AEDM)
• Senior MOT Tester

Who Can Apply

MOT Tester roles are open to authorised testers across all vehicle classes and to qualified technicians seeking to obtain tester authorisation. Strong placements typically come from:

• Authorised MOT Testers with a current, active DVSA tester number and a clean personal testing history who want to move to a new employer with better facilities, improved pay, reduced throughput pressure or an enhanced combined tester and technician role
• Vehicle Technicians holding Level 3 in Light Vehicle Maintenance who want to obtain Class 4 MOT Tester authorisation, whether through an employer-sponsored approved training programme or through independent completion of a DVSA-approved tester training course, and who are seeking an employer willing to support their qualification and provide a test station at which their authorisation can be registered
• Fast Fit Vehicle Technicians at autocentres and tyre and service centres who have been carrying out pre-MOT preparation work and want to step into a full authorised tester role, developing the test lane accountability that distinguishes a tester from a standard workshop technician
• LCV Mechanics or LCV Technicians who hold or are pursuing Class 7 MOT authorisation for the testing of goods vehicles up to 3,500kg, adding significant commercial value to any independent or fleet workshop that processes a high volume of large vans
• HGV Fitters or HGV Mechanics** who hold DVSA AVE qualification and are pursuing or hold a Class 5 or Class 7 testing authorisation, suitable for fleet VMUs, commercial vehicle workshops and PSV operators
• Diagnostic Technicians at franchised dealerships who already hold MOT Tester authorisation and want a combined tester and diagnostic role that maximises their commercial contribution to the workshop
• Workshop Managers or Controllers who hold active MOT Tester authorisation and want to maintain their testing practice in a player-manager capacity alongside their management responsibilities

Current, active DVSA MOT Tester authorisation is required for immediate testing roles. Technicians pursuing authorisation for the first time must complete a DVSA-approved MOT Tester training programme and pass the online and practical assessments before being admitted to the DVSA training and assessment programme. Testers must maintain their Annual Assessments (AQP annual qualification process) to retain active status. Venatu confirms current authorisation status and annual assessment currency with each candidate before presenting them to employers.

MOT Tester Salary Guide

Employers typically pay a testing premium on top of the base technician rate to reflect the accountability, regulatory responsibility and commercial value that MOT Tester authorisation adds to a workshop. Class 7 authorisation consistently commands a higher rate than Class 4 alone. AEDMs who manage the test station's DVSA relationship, quality system and tester supervision carry the full compliance accountability and are remunerated accordingly. Venatu benchmarks total package expectations with each employer before beginning a search. Visit the HR Hub for broader context on automotive technical and compliance role remuneration.

What the Role Involves

MOT Testing:

• Conducting DVSA MOT tests on vehicles within the authorised class or classes, following the DVSA MOT Inspection Manual procedural requirements for each test item, assessing every vehicle accurately against the current failure and advisory criteria and recording results correctly in the DVSA MOT testing service
• Applying a consistent, methodical approach to each test, inspecting the vehicle from the same sequence every time to ensure no item is missed and that the result issued reflects the true condition of the vehicle at the time of test
• Issuing passes, fails and advisory notices accurately, explaining test results to customers or service reception staff in clear, factual terms and providing a complete record of failure reasons and advisories that the customer and the workshop can act on
• Refusing or aborting tests where the vehicle presents a personal safety risk to the tester, cannot be safely placed on the test bay, or where the tester has a conflict of interest with the vehicle owner, following the DVSA refusal procedure correctly

Test Station Compliance:

• Maintaining personal Annual Qualification Process (AQP) compliance, completing annual DVSA assessments within the required timeframe and maintaining active tester status at all times
• Conducting tests only on equipment that has been confirmed in working calibration, refusing to use test lane equipment that is out of calibration date or has a known defect until it has been serviced and recertified
• Reporting any test lane equipment defect, calibration gap or test station facility issue to the AEDM promptly to ensure the station's DVSA authorisation is not put at risk by the continued operation of equipment outside its permitted parameters
• Maintaining personal testing conduct within the DVSA's Code of Practice, refusing any request from any person to alter a test result, issue an improper pass or manipulate the testing record in any way

Workshop Maintenance (for combined tester and technician roles):

• In combined MOT Tester and Vehicle Technician roles: carrying out scheduled maintenance, brake and suspension repair, emissions system work and other workshop tasks between test lane bookings, maximising productive workshop time while maintaining availability to conduct booked and walk-in tests throughout the day
• For combined tester and Diagnostic Technician roles: handling complex fault diagnosis escalations from other technicians during non-testing periods, applying diagnostic skills across the full range of workshop throughput

AEDM Responsibilities (for Authorised Examiner Designated Manager roles):

• Holding the DVSA Authorised Examiner Designated Manager designation for the test station, accepting personal responsibility for the station's compliance with all DVSA scheme requirements including tester supervision, quality control, equipment calibration management, premises standards and complaint handling
• Conducting regular quality monitoring of tester performance, reviewing DVSA monitoring results, addressing any quality concerns with individual testers and maintaining the test station's risk rating within the DVSA's quality framework
• Managing the test station's DVSA relationship, responding to DVSA audit findings and implementing any required improvements to maintain authorisation

How the Process Works

For employers:

1. Submit a vacancy with the vehicle classes tested, current testing volume, shift pattern and whether the role is a dedicated tester or a combined tester and technician appointment.
2. We confirm candidate authorisation status, annual assessment currency and any additional technical qualifications.
3. Candidates are assessed for active DVSA authorisation, testing history and combined workshop capability where required.
4. Interview and offer supported by Venatu throughout.

For candidates:

1. Register your CV with your DVSA tester authorisation class or classes, annual assessment status, testing volume experience and any additional technical qualifications or workshop skills.
2. A Venatu consultant will review your background and contact you directly.
3. Roles are matched to your authorisation class, preferred employer type and geography.
4. Venatu manages the process and advises on package expectations ahead of offer.

Browse current vacancies or create a job alert to be notified when relevant roles become available.

FAQ

What is an MOT Tester and what DVSA authorisation does the role require? An MOT Tester is an individual authorised by the DVSA to conduct official MOT tests at a DVSA approved test station. Authorisation is class-specific: Class 4 covers cars and light vehicles up to eight seats, Class 5 covers larger passenger vehicles and Class 7 covers goods vehicles up to 3,500kg. Each authorisation requires completion of a DVSA-approved training programme, successful assessment and annual qualification through the Annual Qualification Process (AQP) to maintain active status. Every test result is logged against the individual tester's DVSA tester number and is subject to DVSA quality monitoring.

What is the difference between an MOT Tester and an Authorised Examiner Designated Manager? An MOT Tester holds personal DVSA authorisation to conduct tests at a registered test station. An Authorised Examiner Designated Manager (AEDM) holds the overall management designation for the test station, accepting personal responsibility to the DVSA for the station's compliance with all scheme requirements including tester supervision, quality control, equipment calibration and premises standards. A single individual can hold both tester authorisation and AEDM designation. In larger workshop operations with multiple testers, the AEDM may not test routinely but carries the compliance and quality management accountability for the entire station.

Can a vehicle technician train to become an MOT Tester? Yes. The prerequisites for Class 4 tester training include holding a relevant technical qualification at Level 3 in Light Vehicle Maintenance or equivalent and demonstrating the practical experience required by the DVSA's prerequisite framework. Technicians who meet the prerequisites can complete a DVSA-approved MOT Tester training course and sit the online knowledge test and practical assessment to obtain authorisation. Many employers fund the training as part of an agreed development programme. Venatu identifies employers willing to support technicians through MOT Tester training as part of their recruitment and development offer.

What does an MOT Tester earn in the UK? MOT Testers in combined tester and technician roles typically earn between £32,000 and £44,000 for Class 4 work. Class 4 and Class 7 combined authorisation typically commands between £34,000 and £46,000. Combined tester and diagnostic technician roles earn between £38,000 and £52,000. AEDMs earn between £40,000 and £58,000. Most employers pay a testing premium on top of the standard technician rate to reflect the regulatory accountability and commercial value of the authorisation. Venatu benchmarks package expectations with each employer before beginning a search.

What is the progression from MOT Tester? MOT Testers who are also qualified vehicle technicians can progress into Diagnostic Technician, Master Technician, Workshop Controller and Workshop Manager roles. Testers who take on AEDM designation develop a compliance management track record that is valued at Workshop Manager and Head of Aftersales level. Those with multi-class authorisation covering Class 4, 5 and 7 are among the most commercially flexible technical professionals in the automotive sector and are in consistent demand across the range of workshop types that Venatu serves. Read about building a long-term career in the automotive technical sector in My Tech Story: Danny Whetnall, 25 Years In The Motor Trade.

Register or Enquire

Candidates - Register your CV with your DVSA tester authorisation class, AQP status, testing volume experience and any additional technical qualifications. Venatu will match you to current MOT Tester vacancies across franchised dealerships, independent garages and fast fit centres, including roles not publicly advertised. Browse live vacancies or create a job alert.

Employers - Submit a vacancy or visit the client hub to discuss your MOT Tester requirements. Our team will respond within one working day.