Handy Guide for Wannabe MOT Stations

Much confusion surrounds both the types of test bay which you can install and also with respect to the installation of an MOT bay within a garage environment. This handy synopsis explains the detail you need to know…

Basic Classifications of Test Classes

The first thing to understand is what are the classes of vehicle that you wish to test…

• Class I/II – Motorcycle [Including Sidecars] – Always a test using an assistant
• Class III – 3 Wheel Vehicles – Always a test with an assistant
• Class IV – Cars, Motor-homes, Small Vans
• Class VL – >16 Seats with Seatbelts
• Class VII – Light Goods Vehicles

Types of MOT Bay Available

There are a number of test bay types which you can purchase dependant on budget, available manpower on-site. GETECH offer flexibility with our test lanes since our modular construction allows us to offer an almost infinite number of configurations to suit YOUR requirements.

• Motorcycle MOT Bay – A package purely for testing Class 1 and 2
• Standard MOT Bay – [Classes 4, or 7 (incl 5L)] – Test is conducted with an assistant – No easy upgrade to One Person Testing or Automated Testing.
• Upgradeable MOT Bay – [Classes 4, or 7] – Test is conducted with an assistant but equipment can be upgraded for One Person or Automated Testing.
• One Person MOT Bay [OPTL] – [Classes 4, or 7] – Test is conducted with a single man
• Automated MOT Bay [ATL] – [Classes 4, or 7 (incl 5L)] – Test is conducted with a single man. Brake Tester has automated program, integrated weighing and automatic PASS/FAIL decision making capability
• Combined MOT Bay – [Classes 1,2, 4, or 7 (incl 5L)] – An ATL Bay with a brake tester which is upgraded to accept motorcycles.

MOT Bay Layouts

Equipment can be installed anywhere in the premises provided that each test area meets its own individual requirements and the locations still allow the overall test requirements to be met. To that end there is no “right or wrong” way to install the equipment in any premises although practicality dictates that a majority of MOT bays are installed using similar layout configurations.

• Motorcycle Bays

We tend to install motorcycle bays symmetrically about the centreline of the prescribed width of the bay; although a side by side arrangement in theory means that 2 tests can be conducted simultaneously (or at least that in a single test situation, the covers of the roller brake tester can definitely remain off during the headlight test.

In practical terms arranging your bay in this side by side arrangement brings little or no benefit unless the premises is sufficiently large to accept a completely separate zone for the “underside inspection” portion of the test. In reality therefore a symmetrical arrangement works best for a majority of sites.

You can view our Motorcycle MOT Bay Package by Clicking HERE

• Class 4, 5 & 7 Bays
  

These tend to be site specific, but the best starting point is to look at the available headroom and the entrances to the premises. This generally makes 50% of the decisions for you. Headrooms at the 4m mark are suitable for Class 4 testing and 5m mark for Class 7 testing when using a lift and these sizes allow you to understand a) which class testing is actually possible and also b) if a surface mounted, rather than recessed mounted, installation is possible.

A common trap is to think that just because a ramp is installed where you think the mot bay goes, and that you can work under the car comfortably then you are meeting the MOT requirements – Nothing could be farther from the truth…

Another key issue is the sizing of the door to the premises. For class 4 testing it is straightforward: 2.4 metres square is sufficient but for Class 7 testing two dimensions exist dependent on if the MOT bay will run through the door or otherwise.

Essentially always look for 3.5 metres where possible as this maintains the best chance to have a number of different arrangements which will be dimensionally acceptable to the vehicle inspectorate – although you may eliminate some options for practical reasons subsequently.

The above refers to a lift based installation but of course – a pit installation may also be used to achieve approval.

In instances where class 7 testing is to be achieved, the overriding favourite arrangement is to opt for an inline but compact arrangement to minimise the floorspace intrusion although technically you could install side by side or in-line but “stretched out” to allow multiple simultaneous tests on the single bay (subject to available testers).

You can view our all our MOT Bay Packages by Clicking HERE

You may wish to draw on our expertise and request a site visit to look at the feasibility of your MOT bay project. Call 0844 800 9785 to speak to one of our project advisors on the telephone and to arrange your consultation now.

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GETECH supply MOT bays & equipment for all vehicle classes. As a manufacturer within the MOT scheme we are perfectly positioned to remain abridged of current and future known legislation. With a design ethos for total modularity, our equipment is some of the most flexible currently available in the UK.

For more information on GETECH call during office hours, visit http://getech.org.uk or mail info@getech.org.uk.

What are the Requirements to Become an MOT Centre?

Upon doing our usual online checks, we discovered the following search question from within Google which gave the lead for this blog post: What are the Requirements to Become an MOT Centre?

Well, to answer this question correctly it must be expanded. Part 1 of the response is blogged here…

From an owner/operator perspective it is fairly straightforward – you must not have been bankrupt or have any unspent criminal convictions for acts of violence or intimidation.

A key point to note is “unspent” meaning that all is not lost if at some point you have the subject of a criminal conviction. However a note to be aware of. If you are operating a partnership business or limited company then every individual named as part of that arrangement (both or all partners / all individuals named at companies house) must meet the non-bankrupt and non-convicted criteria for the overall application to be approved. If any individual involved does not meet this criteria the MUST declare it on the VT01 application – it is then down to the local vehicle examiner to consider the application for approval or rejection given this information.

Moving beyond the requirements of the individuals / company to operate the station there is also the spatial requirements of the premises themselves which will be covered in another blog post.

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GETECH supply MOT bays & equipment for all vehicle classes. As a manufacturer within the MOT scheme we are perfectly positioned to remain abridged of current and future known legislation. With a design ethos for total modularity, our equipment is some of the most flexible currently available in the UK.

For more information on GETECH call during office hours, visit http://getech.org.uk or mail info@getech.org.uk.

 

Local Authority Consent for MOT Bay Applications

Part of the application evidence that needs to be submitted to the DVSA when applying for an MOT station licence is “Local Authority Consent” which appears within Section C of the VT01 application form.

Specifically the VT01 form requests;

Evidence of planning permission (or an excemption) or written confirmation that existing approval covers MOT testing.

Q: So what does that mean in plain English?

A: It means that the DVSA are looking for a communication from the Council that the MOT facility either has or does not require specific planning permission.

Q; So how do you get the evidence required?

A: With great care. Experience has shown in the last few years that local authorities are usually unable or unwilling to confirm if the correct planning permission is in place unless some kind of planning search or application is conducted – at a cost obviously. Usually there are a few scenarios;

1. The building already benefits from planning permission to operate as a garage (usually B2 but I have also seen B1 quoted). This may be available if the site you intend to use was previously used as an MOT station and document evidence from the Council is available to support this.
2. The building does benefit from the correct planning permission but the Council attempt to steer you towards a planning application of some sort i.e a change of use because they claim that an MOT bay is not classified within the “Land Use Gazateer”
3. The building has completely the wrong planning in place for even a garage to operate. This is not as unusual as you might think – after all, when you first find the ideal unit for your garage why necessarily would you speak to the Council planning department when you are already paying the correct rateable value and have agreed terms with the landlord.

Are you encountering issues with your local Council? Are they attempting either Scenario 2 or 3 with your specific request? Call GETECH. We can probably help as we always include local authority planning assistance with every MOT package we supply. Although we can never guarantee that we can avoid the requirement for a planning application, the truth is that we have lots of experience in dealing with local planning authorities and as a result have a better than average chance of side-stepping this requirement.

And if your planning application requires additional reporting such as traffic flow analysis or flood risk assessments we can also assist.

GETECH Garage Equipment are much more than a garage equipment manufacturer and supplier – we have our own in-house teams to deal with the entire processes of garage and mot bay management so when you engage us in your business you gain a powerful contractor capable of managing entire projects on your behalf and with the minimum of effort from your side. Furthermore, as we are the manufacturer you will have cut out the middle-man when professional support or parts are required… So that’s a truly complete service, with manufacturer support – Why would you buy your garage equipment from anywhere else?

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GETECH supply MOT bays for all vehicle classes. As a manufacturer within the MOT scheme we are perfectly positioned to remain abridged of current and future known legislation. With a design ethos for total modularity, our equipment is some of the most flexible currently available in the UK.

For more information on GETECH call during office hours, visit http://getech.org.uk or mail info@getech.org.uk.

5 Year Extended Parts Warranty, Full Project Management – RTR from £35+VAT/Week

The GETECH Motorcycle MOT Bay Package comes complete with a 5 year extended parts warranty, full project management and 12 months of service & calibration contracts from approx. £35/Week.

Lease, Hire or Buy – What is best for Capital Equipment?

Buying workshop equipment is rarely an easy process. Most people can’t afford to buy the equipment outright in their lifetime, so often look for other options that can take the financial pressure off – like financing or a second hand equipment purchase. But how do you know which option is right for you? With the interest and hidden costs of many finance solutions, or buying second hand equipment that may not be reliable, many workshop owners experience a time consuming and frustrating journey.

Leases have given many garage owners an opportunity that’s both practical and cost effective. As a two way agreement between you and a finance company, employers are given a fantastic option to purchase new equipment suitable for their needs and within a managable budget. It’s a solution that’s helped many people get the equipment they want at a price they can afford.

But how does a Lease compare with other buying options? Let’s take a look!

Lease Hire vs. Finance

Historically, for many garage owners, taking out a loan to finance new or used equipment tended to be a most popular option. Most people opted for either a business loan or a personal loan from the bank both of which require about the same amount of paper work and credit history to get it over the line. Depending on your credit history, the value of the purchased equipment and the type of loan you take on, you may have to fork out a deposit in advance as well.

Although purchasing equipment using finance can be the most familiar option it does of course have interest rates attached to it and these vary significantly from loan to loan so that they can end up costing you a fortune down the track. On the other hand, a Lease still has an arrangement with a finance company but it’s much more transparent than a finance loan – which can seem a lot more attractive than what it actually is.

Lease Hire vs. Buying Outright

Whilst buying equipment outright can be a feasible solution for garage owners who are willing to accept the risk of second hand equipment, it’s not always practical for a brand new. Unless you have been on a strict saving plan for years, have cash in hand at the bank or earn a significant above-average return, it’s rarely a practical plan for the average person.

Buying equipment outright with the cash you have saved comes with one obvious advantage though – it’s yours outright with no more to pay and nothing further to owe. It also has a notable downside – unless you have significant additional funding available to hand at the bank, then a future additional cash requirement within the business could cause cash flow issues – therefore it doesn’t always make a lot of financial sense to buy outright and to ‘dig in’ into your ‘rainy day’ savings account.

Lease Hire vs. Mortgage Redraw

It’s the incredibly low interest rates that tempt homeowners to redraw additional home loan payments to buy capital equipment. The problem? Most mortgages are likely to be a 20 year term (or more!). If you add the cost of the equipment to your mortgage and pay this pack over the same 20+ year period then a £30,000 investment can easily turn into a £55,000.

Lease Hire vs. Lease Purchase

These are the most common methods of purchase for large items of high value capital equipment. Sometimes equipment purchased on a hire purchase agreement can sometimes be confused as a ‘equipment loan’. Under either a lease or purchase agreement, the finance company purchases the equipment on your behalf and you will gain the use of that equipment in return for regular payments.

At the end of a lease hire contract, you have the option to buy the equipment at a pre-arranged rate whereas with a lease purchase agreement you will have already paid the VAT up front as a deposit to the supplier with the ownership of the equipment being automatically transferred at the end of the contract term. On paper this looks more attractive – but only as you will have reduced the initial purchase cost by 20% (the VAT element).

Either way around is “as broad as it is long” as far as ownership of the equipment is concerned however, since the lease hire gives the facility to maintain the initial deposit to zero; in most cases these are usually the most cost-effective way to purchase.

Want to find out if a Lease Hire contract is right for your equipment purchase? Contact us at GETECH Garage Equipment for more information on 0844 800 9785.

More information on our lease packages can be found here.

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GETECH supply MOT bays for all vehicle classes. As a manufacturer within the MOT scheme we are perfectly positioned to remain abridged of current and future known legislation. With a design ethos for total modularity, our equipment is some of the most flexible currently available in the UK.

For more information on GETECH call during office hours, visit http://getech.org.uk or mail info@getech.org.uk.

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It’s so nice when a customer makes time to send you such good feedback on their project! Thanks so much Simon and we all wish you the very best with the new equipment!!

Hi Ashley ,
Thanks again for all your efforts with handling our new mot bays for the car and motorcycle departments.

It’s been a fantastic service from start to finish were extremely impressed with the way you organised all our applications and followed through the process.

It’s been great working with you guys and I’ll be highly recommending G-tech on to other members of the motor trade.

Again cheers for all you’ve done .

Simon Huber

Huber’s garage

Weigh Up the Value of £4,200 in Cost Savings

Looking to either upgrade your existing MOT bay or starting an MOT project from first principles? GETECH can help you weigh up the pro’s and con’s of the many bay offerings provided by manufacturers and suppliers across the UK.

The first thing to get to grips with is the type of MOT bay you are going to install… Sure – you want the all singing and dancing ATL (Automated Test Lane) – you’ve been told this is the future of MOT testing by a number of agents and you’ve been convinced.

But why pay for an all singing all dancing MOT bay when what you want is a good price and one man to operate your MOT bay… Why not opt for One Person Testing instead?

One person testing was previously only available to existing MOT stations and it allowed them to go to One Person Testing without all the expense of upgrading the entire MOT bay. Happily new applicants now also have this opportunity hence the future of MOT testing is actually One Person Testing rather than Automated Testing.

The only difference between OPT & ATL is the roller brake tester which for Automated Testing has an integrated weighing set to allow “as presented” vehicle weights to be used in the brake efficiency calculation – but in opting to One Person Testing you can eliminate the costs of a complete weighing set, download PC and a whole host of other items within the bay meaning that you could save £3,500 nett on the initial purchase.

So do yourself a favour and OPT for One Person Testing rather Automated Testing with a GETECH MOT Bay – You will already have saved £4200 just by placing your business with us!

Call us on 0844 800 9785 to speak to our MOT advisors at any time during normal office hours or visit our website.

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GETECH supply MOT bays for all vehicle classes. As a manufacturer within the MOT scheme we are perfectly positioned to remain abridged of current and future known legislation. With a design ethos for total modularity, our equipment is some of the most flexible currently available in the UK.

For more information on GETECH call during office hours, visit http://getech.org.uk or mail info@getech.org.uk.