Apprentice HGV Mechanic / MOT Tester

DVSA

Barking, Croydon, Dartford, Gloucester, Hemel Hempstead

Closes in 20 days (Monday 18 August 2025)

Posted on 29 July 2025

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Summary

We are offering a career making a difference to road safety in Great Britain. We are looking for people who have an interest in vehicle mechanics and want to build a career with us. Once you have completed your apprenticeship we will look to offer you a permanent role as an HGV MOT tester. This role comes with great career opportunities.

Wage

£27,559 a year

Check minimum wage rates (opens in new tab)

The salary shown includes a flexibility allowance of £2400. A further technical allowance will be paid on completion of qualification when you take up a permanent role with us. Pay structures are reviewed annually.

Training course
Heavy vehicle service and maintenance technician (level 3)
Hours
You will be flexibly working on an annualised hours basis. The actual hours worked will depend on the shifts available in your partner workshop and within DVSA, but will usually be between 6am - 10pm, Mon to Fri and will be agreed with you.

37 hours a week

Start date

Monday 17 November 2025

Duration

3 years

Positions available

5

Work

Most of your apprenticeship is spent working. You’ll learn on the job by getting hands-on experience.

What you'll do at work

As an Apprentice HGV Mechanic/MOT Tester, you will:

  • Gain practical experience repairing, servicing and maintaining heavy goods vehicles. This is undertaken via a work placement at a 3rd party workshop. Please note: some workshops might be an hour away from the advertised location
  • Spend time away from home; this involves attending college overnight for 8 blocks per year, to work towards a qualification in heavy goods vehicle repair and maintenance. This is a mandatory part of the role
  • Typically, spend one to two days a week shadowing a Vehicle Standards Assessor mentor at 3rd party testing facilities. Here you will learn the various processes and routines used in vehicle testing.  This will be your full-time role on completion of the apprenticeship.

Where you'll work

You can select which locations you want to apply for in your application on Find an apprenticeship.

This apprenticeship is available in these locations:

  • 84 Tanner Street, Barking, IG11 8QF
  • 1 Redhouse Road, Croydon, CR0 3AQ
  • 30 Brackendene, Dartford, DA2 7NB
  • Falcon Close, Quedgeley, Gloucester, GL2 4LY
  • Ambulance & Fire Station, Queensway, Hemel Hempstead, HP2 5HA

Training

Apprenticeships include time away from working for specialist training. You’ll study to gain professional knowledge and skills.

Training provider

GTG TRAINING LIMITED

Training course

Heavy vehicle service and maintenance technician (level 3)

Understanding apprenticeship levels (opens in new tab)

What you'll learn

Course contents
  • Carry out the basic tasks with tools and equipment common to all procedures involving basic mechanical and electrical procedures related to HV
  • The ability to keep updated with emerging new technologies within the HV industry.
  • Contribute to the maintenance of a safe and efficient workshop and adhere to the company and legislative processes.
  • Access specific and related HV technical information appropriately.
  • The ability to service, inspect and maintain HVs and trailers to meet company, Driver and vehicle standards agency (DVSA) and manufacturers’ standards.
  • Use a range of diagnostic and electrical measuring equipment to identify faults and underlying causes on HV’s.
  • Successfully inspect and prepare vehicles and trailers to meet DVSA standards prescribed in the tester’s manual.
  • Carry out final quality checks before handover to the customer without supervision.
  • Apply advanced diagnostic principles and logical/problem solving techniques and regimes.
  • Maintain records to company and operators’ licence obligations and regulation.
  • To be able to communicate effectively in both oral and written mediums both internally and with customers on a range of topics that will support, HV inspection and diagnosing techniques.

Training schedule

At the end of this apprenticeship, you will hold a Level 3 qualification in Heavy Goods and Vehicle Maintenance as well as being fully trained to carry out MOTs on buses and HGVs. Functional Skills will be included (if required).

College training will be on a block release basis with our training provider.

You will spend time working in one of our partner workshops learning and doing your apprenticeship tasks. You will also spend on average one to two days a week learning how to conduct MOTs within DVSA. 

Requirements

Desirable qualifications

GCSE in:

  • English (grade 4)
  • Maths (grade 4)

Share if you have other relevant qualifications and industry experience. The apprenticeship can be adjusted to reflect what you already know.

Skills

  • Communication skills
  • Attention to detail
  • Organisation skills
  • Analytical skills
  • Physical fitness
  • Interest in Mechanics
  • Full Driving Licence

Other requirements

There is a physical nature to the role, which will require climbing up into larger vehicles to inspect the inside. There is also a need to climb in and out of a pit to inspect the underside. Due to the nature of the role, you will be expected to drive on DVSA business.

About this employer

We are the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and we are 1 of the 5 executive agencies that make up the Department for Transport. We employ about 4,600 people across Great Britain to help us achieve our mission of keeping Britain moving, safely and sustainably. Our work affects millions of people and thousands of businesses. Most importantly, our work saves lives. We make sure colleagues have the skills to meet the needs of Britain’s road users.

https://careers.dft.gov.uk/dvsa/ (opens in new tab)

Company benefits

You will have access to a wide range of fantastic benefits. We offer generous annual leave, attractive pension options, inclusive working environments and much more to support a healthy work/life balance. You will also be provided with lease car.

Disability Confident

Disability Confident

A fair proportion of interviews for this apprenticeship will be offered to applicants with a disability or long-term health condition. This includes non-visible disabilities and conditions.

You can choose to be considered for an interview under the Disability Confident scheme. You’ll need to meet the essential requirements to be considered for an interview.

After this apprenticeship

At the end of the apprenticeship, we will seek to offer a permanent role as a Vehicle Standards Assessor. You will be qualified to apply for promotion to Team Leader or Vehicle Examiner. You will be able to apply for roles across the Civil Service. We will fully support you with further training or apprenticeship to help you in progressing your career with us.

Ask a question

The contact for this apprenticeship is:

DVSA

Simon Jackson

Frontline.Recruitment@dvsa.gov.uk

The reference code for this apprenticeship is VAC1000332613.

Apply now

Closes in 20 days (Monday 18 August 2025)

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