The Essential Equipment Required For Class 7 MOT work

Setting yourself up as a new MOT centre is no easy task.

Between the layout of your workshop, training your staff, and jumping through the hoops to become an Authorised Examiner, there’s a lot to cover before you can tick the right boxes.

We can’t give you the shortcuts to becoming fully compliant. But we can give you the equipment you need to help get your workshop ready.

So if you’re looking to move into Class 7 MOTs – the specific tests for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) – here are the essential bits of kit you’ll need:

 

1. A Vehicle Lift for LCVs

Every MOT includes an inspection of the underside of the vehicle – and a Class 7 MOT is no different.

Along with a Brake Tester, a dedicated vehicle lift is usually the biggest investment you’ll make to get your workshop MOT-ready. And that means you need to be sure you’re making the right choice before you buy. The Government’s MOT Testing Guide comes with a long list of requirements for a vehicle lift, and you should refer to their specifications to help you stay compliant.

But to get you started, here are a few of the high-level requirements. Among other things, you should be looking for a lift with:

• Wheel-supporting platforms that are at least 4.8m long
• Platforms that can be raised at least 1.4m from the floor
• A jacking beam of 2,800kg
• A position that’s recessed into the floor
• And a Safe Working Load of at least 3,500kg

So if you’re looking for an all-round lift for LCVs that’s a perfect match for Class 7 MOTs – one that includes both radius plates and a play detector – we’d recommend our Light Commercial Four Post Lift.

As the name suggests, it’s been designed from the ground up with LCVs in mind – with a range of platform lengths, a capacity of up to 6,500kg, and the option to install it into a recessed floor.

And if you’re working in a space where you don’t want to use a lift? You can also carry out Class 7 MOTs with a Class 7 Vehicle Inspection Pit – giving you the same underside access that you need to conduct the necessary checks.

If that’s the case, you’ll need a pit with:

• An uninterrupted working length of at least 6m
• A width of at least 760mm, up to a maximum of 1.3m over the working length (measured across both pit walls)
• A depth of at least 1.4m, up to a maximum of 1.8m over the working length

 

2. Brake Testers

Brake testing is one of the most important parts of any MOT – and it’s critical that you’re able to get accurate and reliable results.

So what does that means in terms of your equipment? You’ll need a brake tester that’s:

• DVSA-approved Connected-equipment ready
• Designed to minimise the risk of tyre damage
• And durable enough to keep on producing accurate and reliable results

That covers the technical side of things. But if you really want to ensure accurate results, you’ll need to reduce the risk of human error too – with a brake tester that makes it easy for your operators to use it and understand the readings.

Our In-Ground Brake Tester ticks all of the technical boxes for Class 7 MOTs above. But it also comes with easy-to-use diagnostics software for advanced data collection and presentation, and a wireless handheld tablet that lets your engineers test your vehicles from the comfort of the driver’s seat.

 

3. Headlamp Testers

Headlamp aim testing is a tricky one to set up, with detailed specifics about the near-perfect flat surfaces and rails you need for your tests. (You can find these specifics in the Government’s MOT Testing Guide.)

So to give you the most accurate results from your tests – results that live up to the finely tuned layout of your testing area – you’ll need a precise and easy-to-use headlamp tester that minimise the chance of your staff making errors.

Our 2500 Headlamp Tester uses photodiode technology to give you automatic positioning, for a precise alignment on your headlamp’s light beam.

(A photodiode converts light into electric current. It’s the same technology that’s used in solar power cells.)

It comes with either wireless or wired data transmission, with adjustable settings for low beam, high beam, and lamp headlights. And with the combination of a long battery life and a quick recharge time, it’s a low-maintenance piece of kit that’s perfect for continuous use on a daily basis.

 

4. Emissions Analysers

A big part of any MOT is getting a reading of how the vehicle is affecting the environment (as well as how efficiently it uses its fuel).

More specifically, you need to be able to measure and record how your vehicles measure up to the Euro 6 Standards, the EU-enforced rules around the limits of engine emissions.

So if you’re setting yourself up as a centre for Class 7 MOTs, you’ll need testing equipment that’s MOT-approved and Euro 6-accredited – like our cable-free Petrol & Diesel Emissions Analyser.

It’s an accurate, reliable and portable tester that works in temperatures as low -15°C, and includes a Wi-Fi-enabled, solid-state PC that connects remotely to the analysing unit over distances of up to 100m.

And the best part? It’s simple and easy to use, with automatic calibration for every test – which means no more filters to lose or break!

 

Need to get MOT-ready ASAP?

These four bits of kit cover the basic essentials of what you’ll need to get started with Class 7 MOTs.

So to make life easier, we’ve bundled them all together (along with a Play Detector and Jacking Beam) in a new Class 7 MOT Bay Package – giving you a quick and easy shortcut to equipping your workshop with the tools you need to become an official testing site.

If you’re getting ready to start conducting MOTs for LCVs, get in touch with one of our experts to find out more about our ready-made bundle. Or if you just need to fill the gaps, you can get any of these items from Totalkare individually too!