The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has officially commenced the national rollout of its “Photos at Test” feature on the MOT Testing Service (MTS), unlocking photo uploads for an initial cohort of roughly 2,500 garages across Great Britain.
The move marks the transition from trial to live deployment as the agency ramps up efforts to eradicate “ghost MOTs”, where fraudulent test certificates are issued for vehicles that never entered a testing bay.
Trial data and workshop times
Formerly known as Images in Garages, the feature moves into national deployment following two pilot phases involving more than 300 testing stations and over 60,000 uploaded vehicle images.
According to DVSA data, trial garages achieved a 92% overall upload success rate, with busy sites reaching between 99% and 100% in subsequent weeks.
The agency reported minimal impact on bay productivity, with initial inspections averaging 40 minutes and retests recording only minor time variations.
Tester feedback saw 88% of participants described the upload process as easy, painless, or stress-free.
Grant Thunder, head of MOT at the DVSA, said: “Photos at test will help prevent fraud, provide reassurance to motorists, and protect the reputations of hard working and honest MOT testers across the country.
“This change adds to the range of intelligence and evidence gathering processes used by DVSA to tackle MOT fraud, and will help us to take action against anyone who attempts to undermine the integrity of the MOT or compromise road safety.”
How the workflow operates
For vehicle testing stations (VTS) included in this initial phase, the photo prompt appears directly during the vehicle registration stage on MTS via two standard methods:
1) Testers using a mobile device or bay tablet can register the vehicle, capture the image on the equipment, and upload it straight to MTS.
2) Stations logging tests via a fixed desktop terminal can generate an on-screen QR code during check-in, scan it with a smartphone or connected camera device, and pair the vehicle photo directly to the active test record.
To meet MTS criteria, the photograph must clearly show the vehicle positioned on the testing equipment with a fully legible number plate, without distortion or blur. Photos stream directly to MTS and are not stored in device camera rolls.
While the DVSA advises all active testers to familiarise themselves with the workflow ahead of the system becoming mandatory in the future, the initial rollout phase remains voluntary.
Garages not included in the first 2,500 sites require no action; access will be expanded in phased stages over the coming months until all stations are live.
Testers experiencing local hardware, connectivity, or browser issues can bypass the photo step within MTS without facing enforcement action or delaying test completion.
What’s your take from the testing bay? Share your experiences and join the discussion in the comments.
