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You must get approval from DVSA to set up an MOT centre for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), trailers, buses and coaches (sometimes called an authorised testing facility or ATF).

Youll provide the premises and DVSA will provide you with assessors to carry out the tests.

Once your site has been approved by DVSA, you can:

• have DVSA staff test your own vehicles at your site
• charge a service fee (sometimes called a pit fee) for other companies to have their vehicles tested at your site

Check if youre eligible

DVSA are currently only accepting a limited number of applications. To be eligible to apply, your proposed site must be either:

• a move of premises for an existing site - but it must be in the same local area
• in Orkney or the mainland Scottish Highlands
• in the south of England, and can test laden dangerous goods vehicles such as petrol tankers (red sites only)
• able to show that the new site will significantly improve the service to heavy vehicle operators in that area - you should include all the possible efficiency benefits of your proposed site when you apply

What you need to set up and start testing

You must meet a number of legal requirements before you can open.

Youll need to be approved by DVSA and make sure you have:

• suitable premises
• approved testing equipment

You can find full details of everything you need in schedule 5 of the sample ATF contract (PDF, 828 KB, 54 pages).

Premises

Your site must:

• have planning permission to be used as a test centre
• have an insurance policy with a suitable excess
• have an entrance and exit for vehicles so they can enter and leave the site in a forward direction
• have unobstructed access from its entrance to the entrance of the building which contains the test bay
• have access from a suitable road
• be weatherproof
• have communication equipment and office space
• have wifi - you need a stable wifi internet connection for DVSA staff to use at your site, it needs a speed of at least 1.2Mbps and should be WPA2 password protected
• comply with current health and safety provisions

Testing area

Your testing area must have:

• a flat and level floor
• space suitable to test the category, size and type of vehicles you wish to test
• a minimum of at least 1.5m between any vehicle entrance and exit door and the pit or any fixed equipment
• adequate ventilation or a system to stop the build-up of exhaust fumes
• an effective microphone and speaker system - so you can communicate with DVSA staff or customers during the test if you need to
• wifi - you need a stable wifi connection for DVSA staff to use throughout the testing area

Testing equipment

You need to have approved testing equipment.

You will need:

• computer controlled roller brake tester
• pit, hoist, or lift
• jacking equipment

Depending on what vehicles you test you might also need:

• load simulator or a system to make sure vehicles and trailers are sufficiently loaded so a meaningful brake test can be performed
• exhaust gas analyser
• diesel smoke meter
• headlamp tester
• wheel play detectors

Costs

When youre deciding whether to set up a test centre there are a number of costs that you should consider.

Up-front investment

Youll need to consider costs for:

• land
• a permanent weatherproof building
• building a test lane to meet the requirements
• testing equipment

Annual operating costs

You need to consider costs for upkeep of the:

• equipment
• test lane
• buildings

You also need to consider costs for:

• accommodation
• the use of test lanes
• labour (non DVSA)
• required return on investment

This is not an exhaustive list and you need to consider your own benefits and costs.

Apply to set up a test centre

To apply to get your centre approved, you need to send:

• an application form
• your site layout plans - including site plan and drawing of test bay layout
• your health and safety policy

Apply to open an authorised testing facility

PDF, 270 KB, 19 pages

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How to apply

1. Download and save the application form on your computer before you start to fill it in

2. Open the form on your computer, fill it in and save it again

3. Email the form to contract4atf@dvsa.gov.uk. You need to attach any documents to support your application.

Email contract4atf@dvsa.gov.uk if you have any questions about your application.

Send the form by post

You can also send the application by post.

What happens after you have applied

You should get a response by post within 2 weeks of sending in your application.

DVSA will contact you to discuss site development if your application is provisionally accepted.

If its rejected, DVSA will explain why, and tell you what you need to do if you want to apply again.