Uploading MOT test logs

This page is for garage owners, AEs and quality control managers who need to get MOT test logs into MOTLogs from the DVSA MOT testing service (MTS), so that tests, tester timings and at-risk flags appear.

How does test log data get into MOTLogs?

MOTLogs does not read the DVSA live. You export your test log as a CSV file from MTS and upload it to MOTLogs. MOTLogs reads each file, creates any stations, testers and vehicles it has not seen before, and stores the tests. Flags and scores are calculated from the stored tests.

You can upload a test log at any time, and as often as you like. Upload each month's file after the month ends, and top it up during the month if you want up-to-date flags.

How do I export the test log from MTS?

In the MOT testing service, go to Test logs, choose the month, and select Download CSV. This needs the AE or Site Manager role in MTS. Do not open the file in a spreadsheet and save it again: edited files can lose the layout MOTLogs expects. If a file contains several stations, MOTLogs splits it by station.

You can optionally export the Test Quality Information (TQI) file for the same month and upload it in the same go; it unlocks tester benchmarks. TQI is covered elsewhere in the help.

How do I upload the file?

1. Click Upload logs at the top of any signed-in page. The Upload logs window opens, headed Load your MOT test data, with the steps Garage & test stations added, Export your test logs from MTS and Export TQI for the same month (Optional).
2. Drag your .csv file onto the drop area, or click Browse and choose it. You can choose several files at once. Upload starts as soon as you select them.
3. Watch the list under the drop area. Each file shows its name, size and kind (MOT test log or TQI, guessed from the file name: any name containing "tqi" is treated as TQI) and a status: Queued, Uploading..., Uploaded or Failed.
4. When the upload finishes, a summary appears, for example 2 files uploaded, with the number of MOT test logs and TQI files. A note says "Processing — we'll refresh your dashboard when it's ready."
5. Click Open Overview to see the results, or, if tests are already flagged, Review at-risk (n) to go to the At-risk view. The count says "so far" because processing can still be running.

Which files does MOTLogs accept?

Only .csv (and .xls, but the content must still be comma-separated text) files are offered. Any other type is refused straight away with a message like ".pdf files can't be uploaded. Export a .csv (or .xls) from MTS instead."

MOTLogs identifies a file by its first row:

• MOT test log: the first heading is Site Number and the second is Test date/time.
• TQI: a heading Initial test performance appears on row 11.
• An internal list of active stations is accepted from MOTLogs staff only; other users get "You do not have permission to upload this file type."

The test log must contain these columns: Site Number, Test date/time, Test Number, VIN, User Id and Test Duration. Both the older and newer MTS layouts are accepted, because columns are matched by name, not position. Unrecognised extra columns are ignored.

What happens if I upload the same file twice?

Nothing is duplicated. Tests are matched by MOT test number. If a test is already there, MOTLogs updates it only when something in the log has changed. The month a test belongs to comes from its start time, so a file that spans two months fills both. Comments and Mark as complete on tests already in MOTLogs are not overwritten by a new upload.

How do I know how many tests were loaded?

MOTLogs does not report a count of tests. The upload summary only counts files. Open MOT test logs, choose the station and month, and check the summary line under the heading. See Viewing the MOT test log.

Reference