The DVSA has deemed the first trial of a new system requiring MOT testers to take photographs of vehicles a success, priming it for a wider roll-out.
The requirement that testers upload a photograph of a vehicle being tested in its bay was proposed as a countermeasure against 'ghost' MOT fraud, in which cars are given a clean pass without actually having been inspected.
The first trial of the photo system comprised some 170 MOT testers across 62 garages, covering all vehicle classes. More than 13,000 photos were submitted by the end of the trial.
A DVSA survey of the trial's participants found that half found it "easy" or "very easy" to upload the photos as required, but 7% reported it was "difficult".
Technical issues were found, including the premature expiry of QR codes used to access the upload system, a glitch with image timestamps, and an issue which meant a phone or tablet's keyboard would pop up when it wasn't needed.
The DVSA found that for the top 10 garages it surveyed, the photo had no impact on test times, but it did delay re-tests (for failed vehicles) by two mintues.
The body is now preparing for a second trial involving a greater number of garages, aimed at testing the system "at scale" so it is ready for a phased roll-out nationally.
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