The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has officially begun the first phase of its national rollout for the ‘Photos at Test’ feature, unlocking photo uploads for roughly 2,500 testing stations across Great Britain.
Following trial feedback from 311 garages, the agency released MOT Special Notice 04-26, giving selected workshops access to the smartphone-enabled verification tool within the MOT Testing Service (MTS).
Here is everything Authorised Examiners (AEs), site managers, and testers need to know about how the tool functions, what to do if your station is included, and how to resolve technical bottlenecks before the feature becomes compulsory across the industry.
Phase 1: Are you in the first 2,500?
The national rollout is being deployed in phased cohorts to allow the agency to monitor system stability, measure usage rates, and minimize operational friction on active ramps.
Selected garages: If your testing station is included in this initial phase, the photo upload prompt will appear directly within your normal MTS workflow.
Non-selected garages: If your site has not been activated yet, no action is required. Your bay will continue using standard logging until subsequent phases are announced.
Still voluntary: Uploading photos is not yet mandatory. If a tester encounters a technical glitch or missing hardware, they can select an appropriate bypass reason in MTS and complete the MOT test without disruption or delay.
Testing stations can navigate the new photo requirements using two flexible operational workflows.
Under the mobile-only method, technicians can log directly into the MOT Testing Service (MTS) on a smartphone or bay tablet to register the vehicle, capture the required image, and complete the sign-off process on a single device.
Alternatively, workshops using fixed terminals can opt for a hybrid desktop and QR code workflow, starting the test on the main bay computer and scanning an on-screen QR code with a mobile device to snap and automatically pair the vehicle photo to the active test record.
Crucially for workshop data governance, images captured through either method stream directly into the secure MTS portal and are never saved to local device galleries or camera rolls, removing privacy concerns when staff use personal or shared handsets on the shop floor.
Why the DVSA is pushing for photos
The primary objective behind image capture is curbing fraudulent “ghost MOTs”, where certificates are illicitly issued without the vehicle ever physically entering the test bay.
By tying an image directly to the active test log, the DVSA aims to raise vehicle identity verification standards, protect compliant workshops from unfair competition, and boost public trust in the MOT scheme.
Site managers, AEPs, and AEDMs can now track photo submission metrics directly within existing MOT test logs, viewing whether an image was logged or reading the drop-down explanation recorded if skipped.
Troubleshooting technical issues
If your bay is active in Phase 1 and experiences upload errors, the DVSA advises checking four local settings before raising a support ticket:
– Verify stable local Wi-Fi or cellular signal strength.
– Confirm camera function and browser settings (e.g., enabling camera permissions for the browser).
– Ensure local router or security firewalls aren’t restricting websocket connections.
If issues persist, report them directly to the DVSA including the VRM or MOT test number, device model, browser brand, and whether the failure occurred on the direct mobile or desktop QR code journey.
Is your test bay part of the initial 2,500 cohort, or are you holding off until photo uploads become mandatory? Share your comments and early experiences with us in the comments below.
