Special Notice 03-20: Don’t get caught short

The DVSA has updated its rules and the MOT trade need to take note of the latest special notice. It covers a lot of areas, but it’d be wise to make sure you’re up to date with the latest disciplinary processes

If you weren’t aware already, and you should be, the DVSA has updated its rules with the latest special notice. It focuses on the disciplinary process, emissions records, calibration of equipment, connected equipment and annual assessments. I’m not going to insult your intelligence by grinding through each subject, as most are self-explanatory, but I think it’s worth looking at the big subject, which is a game changer and that’s the disciplinary process.

Getting caught short

For years, shortcomings didn’t stop testing immediately. This meant that a sub-standard garage could muddle on for years, never becoming professional. The ultimate sufferer was, of course the customer.

From now on, a visiting Vehicle Examiner (VE) will have the ability to issue a temporary suspension notice. This can’t, (or certainly shouldn’t), be because the VE doesn’t like you or the garage. The VE has to take a set route for the issue of a temporary suspension notice.

In some cases, the suspension happens on the first offence. If your calibration has expired and there is no other evidence that it’s just a missing certificate – the engineer has applied a sticker referring to calibration on the machine, but the cert can’t be found for example – then a temporary suspension will result. That means no testing until its sorted

In order to start testing again, you’ll need to supply email evidence to DVSA that the calibration is now up to date.

Totting up procedure

Some items attract a totting up of the number of times the shortcoming has occurred. The issue of advisories from DVSA is largely misunderstood by the garage trade. For instance, I spoke to a garage who didn’t display the MOT Noticeboard.  The manager told me: “That’s what the last VE said, but it doesn’t matter, he didn’t take me to task over it. I never got any points.”

That’s totally wrong. When DVSA give you advice, it expects an improvement in this area. If that had been DVSA visiting, finding the noticeboard in the storeroom again, it would result in the garage getting a temporary suspension. Be warned.

Has the old disciplinaries system gone?

No. For the more involved cases, for instance, where engineering standards, or perhaps issues of repute are involved the Central Review Team (CRT) still act as the jury for DVSA. This is an important check and balance, which takes the case away from the VE and the local area, avoiding issues of loyalty or dislike. CRT view the case impartially. But if your smoke meter is a month out of calibration, there isn’t much that can be discussed. It can be wrapped up at a local level with the following questions:

• Do you have a forward planning system?
• Is the item calibrated?

Taking up CRT’s time with simple cases such as these reduces the time it has for more important issues. Not surprisingly, DVSA wish to dispose of these cases by way of a suspension, which will force the garage to rectify the shortcoming, and, hopefully, make sure they don’t ignore advice or let calibrations slip in future.

Events

Take a look at your garage’s history for shortcomings. Older shortcomings may be issued on paper; later ones will be found under events in your MTS service. Take special care to improve on the items advised on.

Don’t forget that if you constantly repeat the same shortcomings, there is a point where DVSA regard you as lacking in good repute. A lack of good repute puts your role, as an AE or a Tester in jeopardy.

The clock’s ticking. Want to get your MOT training and assessment in order before the deadline, Book your IMI MOT Assessment now.

Need to know what’s required, check out the Government’s MOT tester training and annual assessments information.