Associate Member Eligibility Criteria

Below, you’ll find a list of the full eligibility criteria to be an Associate Member of the MTPA

Associate Membership Eligibility

Associate Membership is designed for organisations that contribute to the MOT training and compliance sector but do not yet meet all criteria required for Full Membership. This tier recognises businesses that are actively involved in supporting MOT testers, MOT stations, AEs/AEDs/AEDMs, or the wider vehicle testing ecosystem, and who share MTPA’s commitment to raising industry standards.

To qualify as an Associate Member, an organisation must meet all of the following criteria:

Core business requirements

• UK registered business with an active Companies House entry.
• Minimum 2 years trading history in an MOT-related field such as:
• Training;
• Consultancy;
• Compliance;
• Quality Assurance;
• Technical Support.
• Demonstrates active involvement in supporting the MOT sector in a meaningful and professional capacity.

Professional expertise

• Must have access to, or employ, personnel with relevant experience such as:
• Former MOT testers or qualified MOT technicians, or
• Compliance consultants with demonstrable MOT or garage sector expertise.
• Shows commitment to maintaining current MOT regulatory and technical knowledge.

Training & compliance standards

If applicable to the business model:

• Provides MOT-related services with clear evidence of professionalism, accuracy, and regulatory awareness.
• Operates appropriate quality assurance and record-keeping processes.
• Holds suitable professional and public liability insurance aligned with its services.

Alignment & conduct

• Supports the MTPA Constitution, objectives, and Code of Conduct.
• Agrees not to misrepresent MTPA endorsement, authority, or affiliation.
• Participates constructively in MTPA activity, and collaborative initiatives when invited.
• Must not have unresolved major regulatory or legal issues related to MOT activities.

Beneficial ownership, integrity, & anti-fronting

To protect the integrity of the MTPA, adn the wider MOT industry, the following conditions apply to all membership applications and ongoing members:

• Applicants must fully disclose all beneficial owners and controlling individuals behind the business, including directors, shadow directors, partners and persons with significant influence.
• Membership will not be granted where any beneficial owner or controlling individual would fail the Association’s conduct and integrity expectations, including but not limited to serious or repeated breaches of MOT regulations, fraud, dishonesty or other behaviour that brings the industry into disrepute.
• The Association will not accept applications where an individual is using another person (e.g. a spouse, relative or associate) as a “front” or nominee to obtain membership or access to MTPA where they themselves would not be eligible.
• The MTPA Executive Committee reserves the right to carry out reasonable due diligence checks on ownership, directorships and regulatory history as part of the application and renewal process.
• Any non-disclosure, misrepresentation or concealment of ownership or control will be grounds for immediate refusal, suspension or termination of membership, at the absolute discretion of the MTPA Executive Committee. No refund of fees will be due in such circumstances.

Training delivery note

Associate Members of the MTPA may deliver MOT-related training, but any provider wishing to represent itself as a full MOT tester training organisation must meet the Full Membership criteria.

Discretionary clause

Membership decisions rest entirely with the MTPA Executive Committee, who reserve the right to approve or reject any application at their absolute discretion, without obligation to provide justification.

All applicants are required to pass a members review panel meeting.