The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is urging motorists to take action if they notice a mistake on their MOT certificate – as ignoring it could have consequences
Drivers are being warned to double-check their MOT certificates carefully, as they could risk overlooking a small but crucial error. An MOT examination must be conducted annually for most vehicles to ensure they satisfy the minimum standards for safe road use.
During this process, the testing centre will inspect various components of the vehicle and document them accordingly. One detail that gets recorded is the vehicle’s mileage.
This is typically done to monitor the car’s annual usage and helps create a historical log of how much the vehicle has been driven, whilst also discouraging fraudulent tampering with the odometer. Nevertheless, there are numerous scenarios where a testing centre might accidentally input incorrect mileage on their results.
Should this occur, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is encouraging motorists to rectify the error immediately. Posting on X, the DVSA stated: “Noticed a mistake on your vehicle’s MOT certificate. Whether it’s incorrect mileage, vehicle details, or to add or remove test records, we can help!”
How to fix errors on your MOT
If you spot that wrong mileage has been entered on your MOT certificate, you can have it officially amended to put things right. But the method for doing this will depend on when the MOT was conducted.
Advice from GOV.UK indicates that if the MOT was within the previous 28 days, you can request the MOT centre that conducted the test to update the mileage. To accomplish this, they will need to inspect your vehicle again to obtain an accurate reading and will amend the record to reflect the current mileage at the time you bring it in.
However, if the MOT was more than 28 days ago, you will need to report the mistake through the government website. Before doing this, you will need a variety of documentation and evidence on hand:
- The make, model and colour of your vehicle
- Your driving licence number
- The vehicle identification number (VIN) – also known as the vehicle’s chassis number
- The MOT test number
- The date of the MOT
- The vehicle’s number plate
- what the mileage should be
- An invoice for the MOT
- An emissions printout
- A service receipt
- A vehicle job card from the MOT centre
If you need help with correcting your MOT, you can contact the DVSA’s customer service centre directly by dialling 0300 123 9000.
