Annual MOT Assessment Topics for 2025-26
Find out what topics to train on for the 2025-26 exam
The 2025-26 DVSA annual training and exam year starts on 1st April 2025 and ends on 31st March 2026. Following on from the previous 9 years, the proposals for the 2025-26 year is to include the following:
The annual MOT exam topics for vehicle classes 1&2 are:
(Group A)
Electric, hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles, disabled rider controls and vehicle modifications
- Identifying these vehicles (some electric bicycles are subject to MOT test);
- Identifying high voltage cables (not all are orange);
- Health and safety;
- Testing hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell systems;
- Disabled driver and rider controls (as an addition to normal vehicle controls and when replacing normal vehicle controls);
- Road testing vehicles fitted with disabled driver and rider controls;
- Fuel caps and flaps.
Information in the MOT Testing Guide
- Replacement certificates;
- Disciplinary procedures, points evaluation and possible action;
- MOT contingency test procedures;
- Who to contact in situations like dealing with an incorrectly registered vehicle, needing testing advice, appealing against disciplinary action, and replacing certificates.
Test procedures
- Using an assistant in both the bike and car test one-person test lane (OPTL);
- Using the decelerometer;
- Noise;
- Headlamp alignment;
- Brake test procedures;
- Suspension movement (acceptable or not acceptable);
- Wheel misalignment (shaft drive);
- Belt drive;
- Broken or modified levers;
- Footrests (missing or not required, single seat conversion);
- Reflectors (position, size, shape);
- Exhaust modified;
- Fuel leak;
- Battery security.
The MOT Inspection Manual and MOT Testing Guide
- Number plates (including vehicle registration dates for grey characters or 3D effects);
- Using an assistant in both the bike and car test one-person test lane (OPTL) and automated test lane (ATL);
- Lighting;
- When the interaction between lamps is acceptable or not acceptable (for example, a daytime running lamp (DRL) is permitted to switch off when the same side indicator is operating);
- Locking devices.
Example subjects
- Front and rear position lamps can be incorporated with the direction indicator lamps – the position lamp on the same side of the of the direction indicator may or may not switch off when the indicator is switched on;
- The DRL can function as a front position lamp – it may or may not switch off or dim when the headlamps are switched on and the engine is running;
- Clutch and throttle controls (friction device, does not return to idle);
- Number plate lamps;
- Indicator lamps, position (moped, solo, side car);
- Testing a motorbike with linked brakes;
- Checking steering linkage;
- Checking steering head bearings;
- Checking a solo machine without a centre stand.
The annual MOT exam topics for vehicle classes 4&7 are:
(Group B)
Electric, hybrid and mild-hybrid vehicles, disabled driver controls and vehicle modifications
- Identifying these vehicles;
- Emissions, smoke and visual tests on hybrid vehicles;
- What to do if the beam jack cannot extend clear of the batteries in the floor of an electric vehicle;
- Identifying high voltage cables (not all are orange);
- Health and safety;
- Testing hybrid, electric and hydrogen fuel cell systems;
- Disabled driver and rider controls (as an addition to normal vehicle controls and when replacing normal vehicle controls);
- Road testing vehicles fitted with disabled driver and rider controls;
- Fuel caps and flaps.
Information in the MOT Testing Guide
- Replacement certificates;
- Disciplinary procedures, points evaluation and possible action;
- MOT contingency test procedures;
- Who to contact in situations like dealing with an incorrectly registered vehicle, needing testing advice, appealing against disciplinary action, and replacing certificates.
Test procedures
- Using turning plates correctly;
- Using an assistant in both the bike and car test one-person test lane (OPTL);
- Suspension checks, suspension bearing on a seized car;
- Using the decelerometer;
- Smoke test, temperature;
- Smoke test pre-checks;
- Smoke test plated values;
- Noise;
- Sound deadening material, noise suppression;
- Fuel system (gas powered vehicles leak check) heat shields, leaks;
- Headlamp alignment;
- Brake test procedures;
- The age of the vehicle;
- Seating capacity;
- L category vehicles;
- Modified engine or emission control equipment;
- Goods vehicles;
- Conversions.
The MOT Inspection Manual and MOT Testing Guide
- Number plates (including vehicle registration dates for grey characters or 3D effects);
- Using an assistant in both the bike and car test one-person test lane (OPTL) and automated test lane (ATL);
- Lighting;
- When the interaction between lamps is acceptable or not acceptable (for example, a daytime running lamp (DRL) is permitted to switch off when the same side indicator is operating);
- Locking devices.
Example subjects
- Anti-theft devices (M1 not N1 after 2001);
- Correct use of turning plates (all checks);
- Speedometer operation;
- Warning lamps (electronic stability control (ESC), anti-lock braking system (ABS), seat belt supplementary restraint system (SRS), tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS), engine malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) or engine management light (EML));
- Mirrors.
Important
The above topics need to cover a minimum of 3 hours and a record of this training must be kept by the MOT tester for inspection by the DVSA. If a tester is qualified as both a Group A and Group B tester, they must carry out a total of 6 hours of training ensuring they cover the minimum requirement of 3 hours per vehicle class group.
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2025-2026 (current year)
View the topics for the 2025-26 annual training and assessment year.
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2024-2025
View the topics for the 2024-25 annual training and assessment year.
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2023-2024
View the topics for the 2023-24 annual training and assessment year.
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2022-2023
View the topics for the 2022-23 annual training and assessment year.
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2021-2022
View the topics for the 2021-22 annual training and assessment year.
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2020-2021
View the topics for the 2020-21 annual training and assessment year.
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2019-2020
View the topics for the 2019-20 annual training and assessment year.
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2018-2019
View the topics for the 2018-19 annual training and assessment year.
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2017-2018
View the topics for the 2017-18 annual training and assessment year.
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2016-2017
The topics for the 2016-17 annual training and assessment year are unavailable.
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