Beam setter distance

A headlamp tester installation with:
a) a designated clearly marked vehicle standing area at least 2.5m long, 2.0m wide,
certified as flat and level to within 6mm. The forward edge of the standing area
should be positioned so that it is in line with the headlamp tester lens

The MOT Testing Guide
Requirements for Authorisation D
Issue Date June 2018 59
b) rails certified as being flat and level to within 2mm and parallel to the forward edge
of the standing area. The rails must be straight and the headlamp tester must not
have excessive rock
The certificate for ‘a’ and ‘b’ above must show height measurements from a level
plane at all intersecting points on a 300mm (max) square grid covering the standing
area and at points 300mm apart on the rails, which must be within the limits stated.
It must be signed by a competent person i.e. a surveyor, manufacturer’s
representative or agent and include date, status, address of firm and VTS
address. A copy must be provided to DVSA for placing on the garage file
c) equipment positioned to take account of the vertical and horizontal location of
headlamps tested, the standing area and datum line(s)
d) clearance at the rear of the tester optical head to be at least 600mm
e) the standing area must be durably and clearly marked with a datum line (or lines) at
the headlamp tester manufactures operational tolerance limits for positioning the
vehicle headlamp in relation to the headlamp tester. A centre line on the standing
area at right angles to the datum line is required.
3.3 Headlamp aim equipment operating instructions must be available.
3.4 Suitable arrangements for checking the alignment of the equipment with the standing area
must be in place. These may consists of evidence provided by a competent outside
agency or by the VTS using the manufacturer's acceptable equipment. Provision must be
made for checks to be carried out at no more than 6 monthly intervals and for records to be
kept. It is acceptable if an alignment check is within the 6th calendar month in which the
alignment was last checked