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MOT Changes and DBS Checks

MOT Changes and DBS Checks

MOT Changes and DBS Checks
MOT Changes and DBS Checks

MOT Changes and DBS Checks

MOT Changes and DBS Checks – Keeping Halifax Drivers Safe at Pellon Tyres

(A customer-friendly update from Pellon Tyre & Autocentre, Halifax)

Things never stand still in the motor trade, and lately it feels like every time I nip into the office for a brew, there’s another update from DVSA or someone in government. As testers here at Pellon Tyre & Autocentre, we’ve always taken pride in doing things by the book, and with the latest run of MOT changes and discussions about staff vetting, it felt like the right time to put everything into one simple update for our customers in Halifax, Illingworth, Siddal, and the surrounding Calder Valley.

Let’s start with the MOT changes that matter most.


Tyres & TPMS – Small but Important Tweaks: MOT Changes and DBS Checks

From 11 August 2025, TPMS checks will no longer apply to:

  • Motor caravans

  • Ambulances

  • Hearses

  • M1 vehicles over 2,500kg

So if you’re driving a campervan up to the Dales or down to the seaside, TPMS won’t form part of the MOT. But your tyres still need to be in good nick — and that’s where we come in. You can always pop in to see us at Pellon Tyres or check the official guidance here:
🔗 (gov.uk – MOT Inspection Manual)

And of course, all our tyre services are here:
👉 www.pellontyres.co.uk


Brake Tests – Clearer Guidance for Testers: MOT Changes and DBS Checks

DVSA has tightened the MOT manual wording around brake testing so every garage across the country works to the same standard. The updates include:

  • When to use roller brake testers vs decelerometers

  • Special rules for some 4x4s

  • Extra checks around the Applied Parking Brake (APB)

  • Making sure measurements are properly recorded in MTS

Nothing scary — just clearer instructions, which help us deliver an accurate and fair test every time.


Seats, Belts & ISOFIX – Tidying Up the Rules

A few practical updates include:

  • Lifting folded seats where possible

  • Clarifying occasional seats vs everyday folding rear seats

  • Better inspection guidance for ISOFIX and belt webbing

Again, more clarity than change — but it all helps keep families safe on Yorkshire’s roads.


Diesel Emissions – A Key Change for Newer Cars: MOT Changes and DBS Checks

One of the biggest updates affects diesel opacity values.
If a diesel has an extremely low plated smoke value, testers must now:

➤ Add 0.05 to the plated value before testing

This stops newer diesels from failing borderline tests simply through machine tolerance. With the number of modern diesels we see around Halifax, Mixenden, and Ovenden, this little tweak will save a few headaches for drivers.


Crackdown on MOT Fraud – Photo Evidence Coming In

DVSA are pushing hard against “ghost MOTs” — passes issued without a vehicle ever entering the bay. To combat this, they’ve started rolling out a requirement for MOT testers to take a live photograph of the vehicle during the test.

It’s not compulsory for every garage yet, but the writing’s on the wall:

👉 Photo evidence will likely become standard in the next couple of years.

For us at Pellon, we say crack on — we welcome anything that promotes honest testing.


DBS Checks – Already Completed at Pellon Tyres: MOT Changes and DBS Checks

There’s been a lot of chat lately in the trade about vetting MOT testers and raising the bar for honesty and professionalism in the industry. Some garages have already started doing voluntary staff checks to show transparency.

So here’s something important for our customers:

Every member of our MOT management team at Pellon Tyres has already had a DBS check.

We did this proactively — not because DVSA forced it, but because we believe customers deserve complete confidence in the people working on their vehicles.

DBS checks simply confirm that:

  • You’re dealing with trusted staff

  • Our MOT management team meets high professional standardsWe’re prepared for whatever future DVSA requirements may come

It’s all part of our commitment to honest, straightforward MOT testing — the kind our Halifax customers expect and deserve.


New Jacking Rules (April 2026)

From 1 April 2026, any garage installing or upgrading a Class 4 MOT bay will need:

  • A minimum 2-tonne safe working load

  • A 1,700mm minimum pad spacing

This is mostly to accommodate heavier EVs and SUVs.
Good news for us—our existing bays are already DVSA-approved, so unless we upgrade, we’re good to go.


No Change to First MOT – Still 3 Years

Despite all the talk, the Government has stuck with:

✔ First MOT at 3 years

✔ Then every year after

A sensible decision, especially considering how many faults we find on 3–5-year-old cars around here.



🔧 In Plain Terms for Halifax Drivers

  • MOT rules are tightening, but nothing dramatic

  • Diesel testing becomes fairer

  • Brake and seatbelt checks clarified

  • Photographs during MOTs likely coming soon

  • Pellon Tyres staff are already DBS checked

  • Your MOT test remains fair, honest and by the book — as it should be

Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing
Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing


Title: “Why Pellon Tyres Is Proud to Be a Green-Rated MOT Station”

When it comes to getting your MOT done, trust and honesty are everything. Here at Pellon Tyre and Autocentre in Halifax, we’ve built our reputation on being open, fair and dependable — the sort of garage you can rely on year after year. But did you know that the DVSA (formerly VOSA) actually grades every MOT station in the UK on how well they perform?

It’s called the Traffic Light System — sometimes known as the Green Light Rating — and we’re proud to say that Pellon Tyres holds a Green rating, putting us among the most trustworthy and compliant MOT stations in the country.


🟢 What Is the DVSA Green Light System? Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) oversees all MOT garages in the UK, keeping an eye on standards and fairness. To help them manage thousands of testing stations efficiently, they use what’s called the RAG system — Red, Amber and Green.

This is essentially a “risk rating” that tells DVSA how each garage is performing.

  • Green means low risk — the garage consistently follows the rules, the test results are accurate, and the staff are properly trained and professional.

  • Amber means medium risk — perhaps some inconsistencies or data that needs monitoring.

  • Red means high risk — where DVSA may need to carry out checks or offer guidance.

It’s not just about pass or fail rates. The system looks at how tests are being carried out, how consistent the testers are, whether the equipment is up to date, and whether the garage keeps proper records and calibration logs.


⚙️ How MOT Stations Are Graded: Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

Every MOT station and individual tester is automatically assessed using data from the online MOT system. The DVSA looks at things like:

  • Average pass and fail rates

  • Retest statistics

  • Differences between testers

  • Equipment calibration and site review results

  • Any customer complaints or enforcement actions

All that data feeds into an overall risk score. Green-rated stations, like ours, have consistently accurate and honest testing patterns that match national averages — no dodgy passes, no unfair fails.

If a station’s data looks odd — for example, passing far more vehicles than others in the same category — it might trigger a DVSA review. This keeps the system fair for everyone.

Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing
Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

🚗 Why It Matters to You, the Customer: Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

Choosing a Green-rated MOT garage means you’re choosing peace of mind. You can be confident your car is tested properly, fairly, and safely — not rushed, not overcharged, and not failed unnecessarily.

At Pellon Tyres, we treat every customer the same way we’d want to be treated ourselves. We’ve always said: if a car’s safe, it passes; if it isn’t, we’ll show you exactly why. That straightforward Yorkshire honesty is what’s kept our customers coming back for decades.

Our workshop in Halifax is inspected regularly, and all our MOT equipment is calibrated and maintained to DVSA standards. Our testers are trained and audited to keep everything by the book.

Being Green-rated isn’t just a label for us — it’s a reflection of how we’ve always done business.


🧰 Keeping Standards High at Pellon Tyres: Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

Here’s how we make sure we stay in the green:

  • Regular internal audits of MOT tests to ensure consistency.

  • Up-to-date calibration and maintenance of all MOT equipment.

  • Continuous staff training to stay on top of DVSA changes.

  • Transparent pricing — no hidden extras or scare tactics.

  • Clear communication with customers about any issues found.

That’s why local motorists trust us, and why many of our customers have been with us for years. From MOTs to tyres, brakes, and servicing, it all comes down to doing the job properly and treating people fairly.


🏁 Honest MOTs in Halifax — The Green Way: Pellon Tyres Grade-A MOT testing

The DVSA’s Green Light System might not be widely known, but it’s something every driver should look for when choosing where to book their MOT. It’s proof that the garage plays by the rules and takes road safety seriously.

So next time your MOT is due, bring your car to Pellon Tyre and Autocentre, your DVSA Green-rated MOT station in Halifax. You’ll get a fair test, friendly service, and honest advice — no nonsense, just how we’ve always done it.