Vehicle Standards Assessor England & Wales in Ashington

Employer: DfT

Location: Ashington, Avonmouth, Bath, Bridgend, Bristol, Carmarthen, Coventry, Crawley, Croydon, Darlington, Dartford, Droitwich Spa, Ealing, Enfield, Gateshead, Harrogate, Hereford, Hull, King's Lynn, Leicester, Manchester, Mansfield, Milton Keynes, Morley, Normanton, Peterborough, Preston, Reading, Romford, Rothwell (West Yorkshire), Shrewsbury, Soham, Solihull, Southampton, St Neots, Stoke-on-Trent, Swindon, Tilbury, Walsall, Wigan, Wolverhampton, Yate

Salary: £33,531

Closing date: 30 Nov 2026

About the job:

Vehicle Standards Assessors use their technical knowledge and experience to recognise defects in heavy goods vehicles when they are presented for annual test (MOT). They can determine whether they will pass the test and be legally compliant. By doing this, they contribute to road safety by protecting the public from unsafe vehicles.

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) helps keep Britain moving, safely and sustainably. We do this by helping people through a lifetime of safe and sustainable journeys, helping them keep their vehicles safe to drive, and protecting them from unsafe drivers and vehicles.

We're working hard to:

• Make roads safer
• Improve services for our customers
• Make road transport greener and healthier
• Harness the potential of technology and data
• Grow and level up the economy

Joining our department comes with many benefits, including:

• Employer pension contribution of 28.97% of your salary.
• 25 days annual leave, increasing by 1 day each year of service (up to a maximum of 30 days annual leave), plus 8 bank holidays and a privilege day for the King's birthday.
• Flexible working options where we encourage a great work-life balance.

Your responsibilities will include, but aren't limited to:

• Carry out MOT tests and associated schemes.
• Record test information and results, and issue documentation.
• Offer advice on vehicle safety.
• Ensure larger vehicles are safe to be on Britain's roads.
• Contribute to the safety of all road users.
• Travel to several 3rd party testing facilities.
• Work flexibly with the scheduling team, colleagues and the wider business to deliver excellent customer service.
• Take part in regular team meetings.

Essential licenses:

• A full UK driving license.

Required experience:

To be successful in this role you will need to have the following experience:

• A minimum of 3 years hands-on experience in the repair, maintenance or inspection of at least one type of road vehicle, e.g. car, HGV, PSV.
• Good customer service skills.

Working hours, office attendance and travel requirements:

Vehicle Standards Assessors work an average of 37 hours per week, and carry out tests at 3rd party Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs). We encourage part-time applicants but please be aware, for this role there is a business requirement for successful applicants to be available to work 28 hours per week. You must be willing to travel a wide geographical area on specific DVSA business, where there may be the occasional overnight stay.

This role doesn't require physical repair work, but there is a physical nature to the role which involves climbing up into larger vehicles to inspect the inside, and also a need to climb in and out of a pit to inspect the underside. There will be comprehensive training on all aspects of the role, which includes the use of a laptop and smartphone. The training will last around 16 weeks, with the majority of it taking place at ATFs and online using Microsoft Teams.

Visa Sponsorship:

Please note that we do not hold a UK Visa & Immigration (UKVI) Skilled Worker Licence sponsor and are unable to sponsor any individuals for Skilled Worker Sponsorship. Candidates must ensure they have the appropriate rights to work in the UK before application.

Behaviours:

• Making Effective Decisions
• Communicating and Influencing
• Managing a Quality Service

Benefits:

• Access to the staff discount portal.
• Excellent career development opportunities and the potential to undertake professional qualifications relevant to your role paid for by the department.
• Joining a diverse and inclusive workforce with a range of staff communities to support all our colleagues.
• Latest IT and Tech devices e.g. smartphone and laptop.
• All PPE, uniform, tools and equipment is provided.
• 24-hour Employee Assistance Programme providing free confidential help and advice for staff.

Selection process details:

This vacancy is using Success Profiles, and will assess your Behaviours and Experience.

Reasonable Adjustments:

As a Disability Confident Leader employer, we are committed to ensuring that the recruitment process is fair, accessible and allows all candidates to perform at their best.

Document Accessibility:

This job advert contains links to the DfT Careers website. Our website provides useful guidance and information that can support you during the application process.

Further Information:

For more information about how we hire, and for useful tips on submitting your application for this role, visit the How We Hire page of our DfT Careers website.