Please read, this is crazy!

PRS, Passed after being repaired at the Station?

We are all ware that VOSA like to use abbreviations, but, could the meaning of PRS be changing?

This is one among a variety of proposals being discussed at the moment. Driven by draft proposals from the EU and in line with their desire to standardise the testing procedure throughout the EU, the proposed change may mean that the testing station will not be allowed to repair the vehicle and the re-test must be carried out by a different tester or, possibly a different VTS.

Let’s look at some of these proposals.


1. as above, which could mean a change to the meaning of PRS, could it become Passed after being removed from the VTS and re-tested elsewhere?

2. Future testing based on mileage rather than time.

3. No future requirement to test cars built before 1983

4. Outlawing the aftermarket re-mapping of vehicles.


We can understand the Commissions’ Vice President, Mr. Siim Kallas who is responsible for transport when he says. “It’s not complicated, we don’t want these potentially lethal cars on our roads” and indeed concur with these feelings. But before agreeing to these measures, perhaps some discussion would be prudent.

Let’s take item 1. In Europe, vehicle testing is carried out by Government bodies; these test centres have no repair facilities. Garages in Europe have no testing facilities. As we are aware, VTS garages both test and repair. If the current proposal goes ahead, will the business owner have to make a decision between testing and repairing? If the business decides to test, will the resultant loss of income force the test fee upwards? If the business decides to repair, what will happen to the redundant test equipment?
Test fees will have to be increased and fixed, with no regional variation or competition, something which VOSA have consistently shunned.

Item 2. Testing based on mileage rather than time. A decent enough proposal as we have all seen delivery vehicles and sales representative cars regularly clocking up 30-40,000 miles per annum, but surely we have to say mileage and or time. A car seldom used by its owner covering 3-4000 miles per annum is equally capable of deteriorating, although the reasons for rejection will be different, they will be equally valid.

Item 3. No requirement to test vehicles built before 1983.
Will this be a fixed cut off date or, will the requirement roll on so that as each cherished vehicle reaches its’ thirtieth anniversary, it will no longer be required to be presented for testing?

Item 4. Outlawing the aftermarket re-mapping of vehicles.
Exactly how would this be policed? What equipment would be required to test? What would the cost be? Will there be any subsidies available? How will the tester prove that re-mapping has been carried out?

Perhaps the most disturbing of all these is the proposal to deny the testing station the right to repair the vehicle. This has many consequences which, when looked at appear to fly in the face of all that has gone before.

We all know that there are many competent Do It Yourselfers, indeed many of these may be former Motor Trade employees or just dedicated enthusiasts. But, with the ever more complicated and multiplexed systems seen on modern motor vehicles, how will these amateurs be able to safely repair their vehicles once they have been removed from the garage? This also applies to the many independents of the old school who consistently shun modern advances in the mistaken belief that “It was o.k. to do it this way when I started”. I do not include in that statement the many skilled and up to date independents that do regularly up-skill through training and invest heavily in new equipment.

A further consideration must be given to the drive to reduce carbon footprints, under this proposal, the vehicle presenter will be forced to remove his vehicle and drive to a repairer before, driving to a further test centre for yet another full test. Only the original VTS is allowed to carry out a fast pass or partial re-test. Not only is the additional mileage unnecessary but wasteful and uneconomical.

VOSA’s recent stance on improving on improving the customer experience will be hugely dented should this proposal bear fruit.

A recent statement from Stuart James of the RMI’s Independent Garages Association, reflects the feeling of all concerned:-
“The UK has the one of the highest safety rates on MOT tests and having the same tester has no bearing on this. All this new proposal does is cast unnecessary doubt on the credibility of testers as well as the industry as a whole. The threat may not just be to re-tests but the separation of tests from other activities. The proposal could be interpreted as all testing being separate from repair premises and companies.”
This article is not meant in any way to scaremonger or cause panic but, perhaps, if you are concerned, you may choose to attend one of the VOSA update seminars put on in your area. Should you not be able to attend these, we at Premier MOT training provide free to attend Seminar updates where, all the latest proposals and statistics can be discussed. To find out dates for these seminars, go to www.premiermot.com and look for the seminar dates, then register your interest via the website