Attempts by officials to stamp out ‘ghost MOT’ fraud have been criticised by a former inspector who says the new system being trialled to clampdown on the illegal activity is ‘flawed’.
In recent months there has been a worrying increase in dodgy mechanics selling ghost MOTs on social media – and an equally concerning increase in drivers searching for their services.
Also referred to as ‘Bluetooth MOTs’, this is the practice of issuing a fraudulent certificate for a vehicle that has never been inspected and is likely not roadworthy.
Experts believe this now accounts for roughly four in five counterfeit MOTs.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is now in a frantic race to block the illegal practice happening.
The agency has already introduced new rules designed to block unscrupulous garages, which includes requiring mechanics to take photographic proof of cars being checked. This is currently being trialled in a smaller number of garages.
Chris Price, Head of MOT policy, told This is Money: ‘As part of this ongoing trial, testers will be asked to upload an image in real time to demonstrate that the right vehicle was present at the time of the test. These changes could also help to reduce input errors during the point of testing by autofill.’
However, a former MOT tester believes unscrupulous businesses will be able to cheat these new rules…
The DVSA is currently trialling a new system that requires photographic evidence of the vehicle being tested on a ramp. However, former inspectors say this system is ‘flawed’
New data suggests there is growing public interest in these fraudulent MOT services, with online searches for terms including ‘ghost MOT near me’ and ‘dodgy MOT near me’ rising sharply over the past year.
ClickMechanic told us it has analysed the past 24 months of keyword searches for ‘ghost’ and ‘dodgy’ MOT-related terms. The annual sum of these searches in the last year is 12 per cent higher than in the previous year.
However, an even more dramatic spike has been identified in recent months, with searches up 36 per cent year-on-year in February alone.
With demand for this illegal activity seemingly on the rise, industry insiders have revealed that the DVSA’s plans to tackle MOT fraud has holes.
Autocar has spoken to an anonymous former MOT test enforcement inspector who said the proposed solution of forcing mechanics to take photos of the car during inspection is ‘flawed’.
‘I don’t think the DVSA realises quite how far this stuff has come on,’ they said.
‘Using a DVSA device rather than the tester’s phone would give the agency better control.’
The MOT inspector, who requested not to be named by the leading automotive title, added that he believed the demand to provide photographic evidence ‘can be fiddled’.
This echoes what MailOnline found in a recent investigation; shameless ghost MOT providers are using AI tools to get round the new photo rules.
A ghost MOT broker going by the name Mohammedali Sohaib told MailOnline that it’s ‘still possible’ for some mechanics to get round restrictions: ‘AI is always evolving. There are lots of tools to make a picture of a car in a garage.’
Another ghost MOT provider going by the name of ‘The Certi Team’ on Instagram and TikTok dismissed any concerns that the new requirements would be a problem telling MailOnline: ‘I just need a photo of your car… rest we will sort out.’
The representative added: ‘We will use AI and do the rest.’
However the additional ‘work’ will leave customers having to cough up for a steeper price of £200 compared to £150 previously, The Certi Team confirmed.
A ghost MOT provider called ‘The Certi team’ told MailOnline that they’ll use AI to bypass the DVSA’s photo requirements
TikTok (right) and Instagram (left) are hives of activity for mechanics offering to give MOT certificates to cars remotely without inspecting the vehicle – called ‘ghost MOTs’
The anonymous former MOT inspector, who served for around a decade, also explained to Autocar that MOT inspector job cuts, in his opinion, is one of the major reasons for the rise in MOT fraud.
They said inspector numbers have declined in the region they previously served from around seven in the late 2010s to just one today.
This means a single inspector is now responsible for enforcing hundreds of garages.
‘I know of some garages that haven’t had an inspection visit for seven years. I believe testing standards are suffering as a result,’ they told the motoring magazine.
Another – current – MOT tester told Autocar that he ‘spends more time completing forms than testing cars’ in what feels like a shift in the DVSA’s approach from inspectors to testers.
Andrew Jervis, co-founder and CEO of ClickMechanic, adds: ‘Even with photographic evidence, there’s still room for dishonest testers to pass cars that shouldn’t be on the road.
‘The real concern here is that some motorists are actively searching for these services, potentially putting unsafe vehicles back on UK roads.’
But Price stands by the Government agency’s new rules, saying they will be a deterrent.
‘DVSA enforcement examiners will continue to play a key role in tackling fraud and improving the quality of testing,’ he told This is Money.
‘Taking photos at test will be a helpful enabler in providing us with further information to target our enforcement efforts while also acting as another deterrent to those looking to undermine the MOT’s veracity.’
The cost of an MOT could rise for the first time in 14 years if ministers respond to industry calls to help struggling small garages
Is the cost of an MOT about to rise for the first time in almost a decade and a half?
The Independent Garage Association (IGA), which represents hundreds of vehicle maintenance and servicing businesses across the country, met with The Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood to argue for increasing the cost of MOTs.
This would be the first time in 14 years that MOTs have risen in price.
The organisation says that the £54.85 limit for an MOT is ‘threatening the viability’ of small auto garages and that ‘inflationary pressures’ as well as rising parts prices are unsustainable.
Transport Secretary Heid Alexander warned in December that the ‘stagnant MOT fee cap’ is posing huge financial challenges to garages.
The body argues that maintaining the quality and integrity of MOT testing in the face of rising costs and evolving vehicle technologies requires ‘adequate funding’ – not possible under the current cap.
It said: ‘Increasing the MOT fee is a pragmatic and necessary step to ensuring garages can invest in advanced equipment, infrastructure, and ongoing training for technicians.’