If you are setting up a new MOT Bay or are planning to take over a garage that needs an MOT Bay set up and connected then this can be quite a bit of work, and also a distraction from the garage mechanic work you want to be doing to make a profit for your business.
This is where Concept Garage Equipment can help. We are UK specialists in MOT Bay design, set up and connected MOT equipment. Frankly, what we don’t know about MOT Bays and what’s involved in the design and setup of an MOT testing station isn’t worth knowing!
What is MOT Bay Project Management?
Our MOT Bay Project Management service can take your business step by step from any stage of the process through to successful sign-off and completion of your MOT Bay on the first day you put your new MOT bay to use.
If you have an empty unit, an existing garage you want to upgrade to do MOT testing, or have taken over an existing MOT Bay that needs upgrading or connecting to DVSA we can project manage any of these scenarios for you.
Steps to setting up an MOT testing station
These are the steps to getting up and running as an MOT testing station:
- Initial site visit to measure up for an MOT bay
- MOT equipment selection
- MOT Workshop Layout
- CAD Drawings & Site Plans
- DVSA VT01 application for Agreement in Principle (AIP)
- Liaise with contractors
- Book or complete MOT tester or manager course (AEDM) – as long as booked can get VT01 passed
- MOT equipment supply, installation, calibration and staff training
- VT01-D for final DVSA sign off
- Commence MOT testing
- MOT Annual Assessments
1. Initial site visit to measure up for an MOT bay
We will visit your site and take all measurements, which will allow us to make an initial assessment of your business, class of MOT Bay required, whether we feel the equipment you would like will fit and be suitable or advise initially on what we feel would be your best design, layout and MOT equipment and advise on the next steps in the project management of your MOT Bay.
The measurements taken will also be used for the CAD drawings which will be needed to be included with your DVSA VT01 application
2. MOT equipment selection
An initial discussion to talk about the class of vehicles you intend to be working on, as well as if you have any preference in which manufacturer of MOT equipment. Some customers prefer name brands, whereas others are more budget conscious, and yet others are more concerned about the colour of the equipment to align with their branding, and we can work within your requirements to come up with a set of equipment that will meet even the most rigid of criteria.
3. MOT Workshop Layout
Next, we work out the most cost-effective way to lay out your bay but always ensure the best use of space within your workshop. We will be working on the sizes of your premises, as well as ensuring that the MOT Bay will work practically and remain within the legal boundaries set by DVSA, as this will guide the CAD drawing, and ensure that the design elements of the VT01 application are nailed down, preventing any delays to the process, and this will also help us to know the next steps, the equipment we need to place on order and any 3rd party companies that we may need to include in this MOT Bay project.
4. CAD Drawings & Site Plans
Working within both the measurements of your garage workshop and your business requirements, we will design and supply you with the Computer-Aided Design (CAD) drawings of your proposed new MOT Bay layout design, this will include all measurements of both your available space, the MOT equipment that will be fixed in place, which can include:
- Roller brake tester
- 4 post lift, scissor lift or inspection pit (or motorcycle lift for Class I and II MOT Bays)
- Headlamp beam tester
Other equipment that is required for MOT testing such as gas and smoke emissions units will also be advised upon and quoted for, but since these are mobile units would not be necessary on the CAD drawing.
5. DVSA VT01 application for Agreement in Principle (AIP)
DVSA VT01 form must be completed to apply to set up or change an MOT test station, including becoming an Authorised Examiner (the person or business that runs it).
You will need –
- A solicitors letter
- A basic Disclosure and Barring Service check (DBS)
- A Computer-Aided Design (CAD) for your garage or workshop
- Site plan
Before you start to fill in your VT01 form you will need to set up an account on the DVSA MOT Testing Service system (MTS).
Once it’s submitted the DVSA will look at the application and if everything is correct then it will be passed to your local Vehicle Examiner (AE). They will then issue you with an Agreement in Principle (AIP). This authorises you to commence with your project and the installation of the MOT equipment.
For a thorough explanation of the DVSA VT01 application process please see our blog post:
https://concept-ge.co.uk/vt01-form-setting-up-an-mot-test-station/
6. Liaise with contractors
As part of the MOT build and installation, we can supply all the contractors that you need to do work such as 1-phase or 3-phase electrical connections, cabling, and groundwork, but we are equally comfortable liaising with your choice of local contractors to complete these tasks. We will advise and consult with these 3rd party companies, as well as keep you up to date at every step of the process to ensure the installation gets done without a hitch, and you can be involved as much or as little as you would like.
7. Book or complete MOT tester or manager course (AEDM) – as long as booked can get VT01 passed
You need an MOT manager qualification course before you can become an Authorised Examiner Designated Manager (AEDM), also known as an MOT business manager. Once you have decided who the AEDM will be you will now need to book the AEDM training course. We can take care of arranging this training for you at a time and location convenient to you.
Once the course is completed, either you or the delegate will be issued a certificate. Although this isn’t required for your initial VT01 application, this can be included with your VT01 documents to support your application.
It’s important to note that essentially as long as you have the AEDM training booked you can continue with your VT01 application, but you do not need to have taken the course for the application process to continue.
8. MOT equipment supply, installation, calibration and staff training
Once the MOT Agreement in Principle (AIP) has been issued by DVSA your garage equipment engineers may commence the setup of your MOT Bay, along with delivery, installation and training of your staff on the MOT Bay Equipment.
Concept Garage Equipment can supply everything you need from MOT tools (including the and the MOT hammer tool or ‘Corrosion Assessment Tool’ as it’s known) through to the lift, inspection pit, gas analyser, headlight tester and anything else that is required for the class of vehicles you plan to be MOT testing. As mentioned above, we can supply electricians, and builders and/or liaise with any other services or providers of your choice to ensure the installation gets done without a hitch, and you can be involved as much or as little as you would like, you will, of course, be consulted throughout the process to ensure you are happy with every aspect of the MOT bay that is being constructed, and to check for any requested changes you require as it is being done.
Once installed and calibrated, we can also arrange for staff training, so that all existing or new staff who will be doing MOT testing are suitably qualified and trained and in use of your new MOT Bay equipment.
9. VT01-D for final DVSA sign off
Following your equipment installation, you will then be ready for the next step in the process. You will now need to notify DVSA that your equipment is installed and that you would like your Vehicle Examiner (VE) to visit your garage and inspect the installation and paperwork. You will request the on-site DVSA visit by submitting a VT01-D document.
10. Commence MOT testing
Once the DVSA Vehicle Examiner (VE) visit is completed, assuming everything is to his satisfaction, your file will be sent to their office to authorise your MOT bay to commence MOT testing.
At this point, you are able to start using your new MOT garage equipment to perform MOT tests on customers’ vehicles, to the class of vehicle for which the MOT equipment has been installed, and begin to realise the enormous earning potential of your new investment.
11. MOT Annual Assessments
As an MOT Tester, you must complete training and pass an annual MOT tester assessment between April and March every year, and you are at risk of your MOT tester status being suspended if you do not pass the annual MOT tester assessment by 31 March.
Therefore, each year before the end of March, all MOT testers must complete the annual MOT CPD assessment training. This includes 3 hours of MOT annual training, each year and 16 hours in 5 years.
The MOT annual assessment training is usually done virtually over Microsoft Teams or Zoom, but can optionally be run at a location of your choice.
Would you like to discuss the project management of your MOT Bay?
If you are setting up a new MOT Bay, upgrading your existing MOT Equipment or have taken over an existing MOT Bay from another garage owner, you will be at the start of your MOT Bay project, equally, if you have been let down by another garage equipment company, we are quite used to picking up the reins and making good an MOT project that could otherwise go south.
Simply give our sales team at Concept Garage Equipment a call today. We can advise on the best and most appropriate next steps on your MOT Bay project, the MOT equipment you may need, and the MOT training required. We will also advise if you need MOT-connected equipment depending on your MOT Bay setup and circumstances.
We can offer you advice over the phone at 0113 469 0572, we have helped to advise, build, and set up hundreds of MOT Bays across the UK and we have a huge range of MOT equipment and tools. All product prices include delivery as well as free advice on the best use of the MOT equipment, or indeed any other garage equipment up to a full MOT Bay installation.
Call us today on 0113 469 0572 or use the website contact form today, we are here to help.
MOT Bay CAD Drawing
MOT Bay Completed
In these example images of an MOT Bay CAD drawing and the finished MOT Bay you can see the following equipment shown:
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- Roller brake tester
- 4 post lift
- Headlamp beam tester
- gas and smoke emissions units (not shown on the CAD drawing as this is a mobile emissions unit)