The DVSA has sent a stark warning to the minority of rogue testers undermining the industry’s reputation, successfully prosecuting two men for a lucrative “Ghost MOT” scheme in Bristol.
For the thousands of independent garage owners who invest heavily in training, equipment, and compliance, few things are more frustrating than competitors who cut corners.
Last week at Bristol Crown Court, that frustration was validated as Owain Shaw (an MOT tester) and Jamie Lee (a mechanic) received suspended prison sentences and hundreds of hours of unpaid work for issuing certificates for vehicles that never entered the workshop.
The pair ran a so-called Ghost MOT operation, issuing passes for vehicles they never saw in exchange for cash.
DVSA investigators used data monitoring to spot the scam, noting tests completed in under one minute and issuing certificates for cars that were nowhere near the site.
While the headlines will focus on the crime, the significance for the independent sector lies in the enforcement.
The fraud allowed 223 potentially dangerous vehicles to remain on the road, undercutting the work of legitimate workshops that would have correctly identified and repaired the faults.
Marian Kitson, DVSA’s Director of Enforcement, was clear that this action is about protecting the integrity of the system: “This successful result… serves as a stark warning to anyone who believes they can get away with committing such a serious offence.”
Mandatory MOT photos?
To combat ghost testing (which makes up 80% of all MOT fraud), the DVSA is currently trialling a system where testers must photograph vehicles during the test and upload them to the DVSA database.
The Trial: 170 testers across 62 centres have already uploaded 13,000 photos in a 6-week period.
The Future: The DVSA confirmed it is “widening the trial” with a view to a national rollout.
