In a move designed to reduce confusion and improve day-to-day testing, the DVSA is removing vehicle-specific MOT advice from the MOT Testing Service (MTS) and hosting it in one single location on GOV.UK.
The change is already live and follows long-standing complaints from garages and testers who said the current advice within MTS was often contradictory or irrelevant.
Feedback included examples like motorcycle testers being shown advice for four-wheel-drive cars, or instructions on electronic handbrakes that contradicted themselves in the same section.
There were also data accuracy issues that meant testers were seeing procedures for entirely wrong makes and models.
The DVSA admitted the system “hasn’t always worked as we’d hoped” and said it had listened carefully to the trade.
The replacement advice page on GOV.UK has been designed with input from MOT testers and technical experts.
It is split into two clear sections: one covering cars and light commercial vehicles, and another dedicated to motorcycles.
Testers will still see a link on the vehicle confirmation screen inside MTS, but the familiar blue advice button will be replaced with a grey box.
The link will appear regardless of whether specific advice exists for that vehicle. The same link is also available in the MTS footer alongside the manuals and on the test results page.
If advice is available for a particular make, the link will take users directly to that section. If not, testers can still browse the full document by manufacturer once they are on the GOV.UK page.
The structure is alphabetical by manufacturer, and the DVSA says the content will now be updated more quickly when manufacturers send new information.
Additionally, the guidance can include images and diagrams to assist with complex procedures.
One of the biggest advantages of the new system is accessibility on any device with an internet connection, whether or not someone is logged in to MTS.
This means apprentices, new testers, and even trade staff not currently testing can still look up vehicle procedures.
The advice itself should now be clearer and less cluttered – car advice won’t pop up during a bike test, and vice versa, and irrelevant content should no longer get in the way.
The only downside noted so far is that testers will no longer be able to print the advice from within MTS, though it will still be viewable on phones, tablets or PCs.
The DVSA emphasises that the new system is still a work in progress and is encouraging garages to help improve it.
A feedback option is now available directly on the GOV.UK page, and testers are being invited to comment on whether the information is clear and complete or whether anything needs fixing or updating.
This shift signals a broader effort by the DVSA to modernise the testing experience and reduce misuse or misunderstanding caused by outdated materials.
If it works as intended, garages should benefit from faster updates, more accurate information, and less distraction during MOTs.
The real test will be whether the trade finds it easier to use in day-to-day operations. For those who want to try it now, the advice page is live and searchable on GOV.UK under “MOT testing advice by manufacturer.”
