The Government has finally shown its hand on how electric vehicles will be taxed going forward. Instead of pretending EV owners get a free ride forever, the Treasury will apply a mileage-based charge – roughly 3p per mile, from 2028. The DVSA and the Department for Transport will use the MOT system to validate mileage to prevent abuse.
Why is mileage coming through the MOT?
Because it’s the only existing mechanism in the UK that:
- captures mileage at a fixed point in time
- is audited
- is governed by legislation
- has compliance enforcement
Nobody trusts self-reporting! Everybody knows odometers can be ‘adjusted’. Whereas MOTs are logged, timestamped, and public. That makes the MOT database the most reliable option.
How will it work in practice?
Drivers will declare mileage when renewing VED. The DVSA will cross-match that against their MOT entry. If the numbers don’t line up, it triggers a red flag. That means follow-up checks, possible penalties, and appeals.
Translation: your recorded mileage becomes financial evidence.
What about electric vehicles that are under 3 years old? (This is the curveball!) EVs don’t have an MOT in the first 3 years so the Government plans to introduce two mileage validation visits:
- around the car’s first anniversary
- and again around the second
These visits must happen at an MOT-approved site. They will not be paid by the customer. They will be government funded, to compensate the testing station for the time. This is additional footfall and income for MOT testing stations for every EV on the road.
What does this mean for AE’s? (Let’s be blunt!)
1. Mileage accuracy becomes compliance-critical. Mileage disputes will have tax consequences. If your testers don’t get it right, you’ll be dragged into it. This will drive better record-keeping, SOPs, and staff training.
2. There will be additional Gov funded visits with two checks required for every EV before its first MOT. This is guaranteed revenue but compliance critical.
Correct paperwork = paid time.
Poor paperwork = complaints.
3. Expect diagnostics. The DVSA is openly talking about using diagnostic tools to validate mileage. They want ECU mileage, not just dash mileage. If you don’t have the tools, skills or the ability, you’ll struggle.
4. Expect industry-driven development. This isn’t being imposed in a vacuum. The DVSA is going to work with the MOT industry. Trade bodies will be involved and the process will evolve over time. If you sit still and moan, you’ll get left behind.
The opportunity for testing stations
This is a paid service that integrates with an existing compliance framework. It raises the value of MOT garages – not just test bays.
For once, the Government isn’t trying to push the burden onto you unpaid, so take advantage of it:
- invest in diagnostic tools
- clean up mileage procedures
- train your team
- treat mileage as a financial compliance metric, not a side note
The garages who get organised early will own this space. Everyone else will stumble around when it goes live.
MOT Compliance Group will be releasing standard operating procedures, training materials, and template paperwork for AEs so you don’t have to reinvent the wheel. Get in touch with your MOTCG consultant to find out more or get yourself an MOT consultant to stay up to date with MOT compliance.
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