July 18, 2022
We live in a high-tech society, and the MOT scheme is no exception. DVSA’s capacity for oversight and regulation is the best it’s been as monitoring becomes ever more technical. As a result, we have seen a steady and notable increase in DVSA disciplinaries and actions over the last five years. Sometimes even honest mistakes are penalised, errors that could happen to the best of us on a bad day. In this climate of ever-increasing regulatory action, smart AEDMs are asking themselves, is there anything else they can do to reduce risk to the business?
DVSA approval is the lifeblood of MOT testing stations throughout the UK. That approval is necessary to remain licenced for the MOT scheme. We all know mistakes can happen; human error, data entry mistakes, and technical issues leading to logging discrepancies. But mistakes picked up by the VE, no matter how honest, are likely to equate to penalty points, and very quickly to sanctions that include temporary closure of your MOT test lanes, considerable impact on revenue and undesirable headaches. Considering this, any actions that get the VE on-side can be considered a definite win for the business.
Data drives current regulation by the DVSA. Detailed MOT data recorded in real-time and stored nationally, with the development of high-tech automated monitoring systems and detailed algorithms working behind the scenes to spot risk and/or fraud, dramatically increases the ability of the DVSA to pick up on anomalies and potential errors. However, thankfully in our sector, penalties and actions are still very much issued and managed by humans. VEs can assess the whole picture before deciding on a course of action resulting from misdemeanours. To this end, it is helpful to know what things you can do that will go in your favour towards mitigating any disciplinary action taken against the business.
The DVSA will want to see that you have quick and easy access to all and any documentation or evidence they request during an audit. Hunting around for lost or incomplete paperwork at the back of the filing system, or worse still, an utterly disorganised paper tray, will not fill the VE with confidence that you are a business that knows the importance of following proper procedure.
The VE will look for evidence throughout an audit that an establishment is being run correctly and with mature and sensible systems and processes. Any evidence you can provide that you not only meet the expected standards but exceed them might help mitigate any disciplinary actions.
Guidance in the MOT Testing Guide concerning the formal disciplinary procedure states: “in the case of an AE, if evidence is offered of the operation of a quality-control or quality management regime significantly better than the minimum acceptable to DVSA, in operation prior to the disciplinary case, this will be taken into consideration and could lead to a reduction in the level of sanction taken”.
On both points, MOT Juice has got your back. MOT Juice is the go-to compliance suite for smart AEDMs and MOT testing businesses. Not only is it the simplest way to keep your compliance documentation and evidence well organised and easily accessible, but the MOT juice system encourages you to go above and beyond the minimum requirements laid out by DVSA in many areas.
For example, the MOT Juice platform:
– Encourages users to run monthly checks, audits and data reviews, which is over and above the minimum frequency set out by the DVSA.
– Provides filters on test log information which can help you identify areas of risk at a glance ahead of any VE intervention.
– Asks all MOT testers and managers to complete 15 minutes of monthly CPD which is additional to the standard annual curriculum and a unique offering among MOT training platforms. This CPD includes live on-topic training and refreshers to meet the most current needs and keeps you up to date with special notices and regulatory changes. Our aim here is to promote ongoing learning, refining of knowledge, and scheduling training in relevant and the most up-to-date policy in the industry.
MOT Juice can help you reduce risk in your business by assisting every employee at every level in your business to meet and exceed all their MOT compliance responsibilities. This compliance documentation can be easily monitored for the whole company and effortlessly evidenced when the DVSA requests to see it.
For larger regional groups our system brings together HR, Compliance, workshop commercial activities and helps you to actively manage your team!
To take our favoured compliance suite for a test drive, sign up now for a 30-day FREE TRIAL and discover how MOT Juice can simplify and streamline your business processes.
