Tonbridge drivers warned over dodgy MOT certificates

Kent Trading Standards are warning consumers not to rely on the printed version of the new-style MoT certificate when buying a car.

This advice the follows the arrest of a 38 year old man on suspicion of forging MoT test certificates with intent to deceive.

There is also the possibility that unscrupulous traders, and service repair outlets, could agree to MoT a vehicle and charge accordingly without having carried out the test at all.

The new-style MoT test certificates can be fraudulently reproduced and there is a lack of awareness about the fact that paper documents are no longer proof of existence of a valid MoT certificate.

When the new certificates were first implemented in October 2011 they were only intended to be a receipt for the MoT.  

The actual record and full details are stored online at the VOSA website. You can check an MoT is valid by using the serial number of the MoT certificate or the serial number of the V5.