Government want motorists to view their MOT certificate online
As part of the Government’s move to more digital services, they have set out their plan for 2025 with an ambition within the MOT to:
- Improve how we use technology and automation in the test
- Make the MOT slicker
- Provide better information for customers
- Minimise opportunities for fraud
Although the Government are still reviewing the use of other digital services, they plan to move forward with reducing the number of MOT being printed, stating it will:
- Save MOT testing businesses money by using less paper and printer ink or toner
- Be better for the environment
- Reflect the way some customers are already using our online service
Since 2021, the Government has made it optional for MOT testing stations to issue a paper copy of the emissions test to the customer if the vehicle passes the emissions test and also made it optional to issue a paper MOT pass certificate, although issuing paper fail certificates continued.
Now the Government want to take things a step further and give MOT testers the flexibility to not issue a paper fail certificate if the customer is able and willing to view the vehicle’s MOT record and history online. MOT testers can still offer a paper fail certificate to customers for complex or multiple failures so that it’s clear exactly what they need to do to fix the vehicle.
However, if the customer would prefer to look at this information online using the MOT history service, that’s fine. The customer can choose what is best for them, although if the vehicle fails the emissions test, a printed emissions test record will need to be issues.
You can read more about this move towards a paperless MOT service on the Government blog.