DVSA special notices explain changes to the MOT scheme that may not yet be included in the inspection manuals or testing guide. Use the current government collection to check what applies and when a change takes effect.
Open DVSA’s MOT manuals, checklists and special notices →
Find the current notice
- Open the official collection and select the relevant year.
- Read the full notice, including its effective date and the vehicle classes or testing roles it affects.
- Check whether it has been replaced, withdrawn or incorporated into the current manual.
Recent subjects in the official collection
At the October 2026 review, the collection includes notices about photographs at MOT tests, changes to testing-service sign-in, the fees and appeals poster, and the classification of certain zero-emission goods vehicles. Follow the official notices for the details and dates; a headline alone is not a complete testing instruction.
For car owners
Many notices are operational instructions for test centres. If a garage says a recent change affects your test, ask for the notice number and an explanation of how it applies to your vehicle.
For everyday questions, start with our MOT testing guide, fees and retests or appeals guidance. For technical criteria, see the inspection manuals.
About older notices
This page previously displayed a VOSA-era list from 2010 and 2011. That list should not be used as current guidance. For a historical query, look for the dated official publication and its withdrawal or replacement notice.
The DVSA collection covers Great Britain. Northern Ireland has a separate DVA testing system; use nidirect for that guidance.
Reviewed 10 October 2026 against the linked DVSA collection. New notices can be added after this review.