The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is recruiting lorry and bus MOT testers across Great Britain, with vehicle standards assessor roles open in England and Scotland.

Vehicle standards assessors (VSAs) carry out the annual MOT test on heavy goods vehicles and public service vehicles, checking brakes, steering, lights, emissions and other safety-critical parts before deciding whether a vehicle is legally roadworthy.

What the role involves

Assessors test lorries and buses presented for their annual test, record the results, issue the test documentation and advise operators on vehicle safety. The work is field-based: assessors travel to third-party testing facilities and work with DVSA scheduling teams, colleagues and operators to keep testing running smoothly.

Who can apply

DVSA says applicants need at least three years' experience in the maintenance and repair of road vehicles, up-to-date and in-depth knowledge of vehicles, and experience of examining vehicle components. Applicants must hold a full car driving licence and already hold, or be willing to work towards, qualifications in motor vehicle repair.

Full-time and part-time posts are available, although part-time assessors must be available for at least 28 hours a week. Benefits listed by DVSA include a Civil Service pension, a fully insured and taxed lease car for work and personal use, and retail discounts.

Where the jobs are

Vacancies are listed across England, including Amesbury, Andover, Basingstoke, Bedford, Biggleswade, Cambridge, Coventry, Edmonton, Enfield, Grays, Hemel Hempstead, Kings Lynn, Leighton Buzzard, Maidstone, Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Rugby, Stevenage and Witham, and in Scotland at Dundee, Glasgow and Perth.

DVSA runs webinars and "how to apply" sessions for its live roles, including virtual events for vehicle standards assessor applicants. Applications are made through the official GOV.UK Find a Job advert and the Civil Service Jobs service, where the closing date for each campaign is shown, so applicants should check the advert for the current deadline before applying.