Ministry of Transport (MOT) Testing

Model S, Model X, Model 3, Model Y

 

The MOT (Ministry of Transport) test is a regular inspection of vehicle safety, roadworthiness, and exhaust emissions. Tesla vehicles should undergo an inspection or be taken to a third-party test centre to have their test evaluation and certification. This website contains Tesla-specific details aimed to facilitate the inspection such as VIN locations, jacking points, settings for free wheeling, and how to complete the brake tests. This website is not intended, and should not be relied upon, as a comprehensive overview of period inspection requirements.

Vehicle Identification Number

The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on Tesla vehicles is visible in the locations as shown below.

All models: under the windshield (driver’s side)

All models (except Model 3 and Model Y with VIN starting with LRW): on the door jamb (driver’s side)

Model 3 and Model Y (VIN starting with LRW): under the right hand front seat

Model 3 and Model Y (VIN starting with 5YJ): under the right hand upper B-Pillar trim

Model Y (VIN starting with XP7) and Model X: under the right hand rear sill trim

Model S built through September 2015: under the rear underhood apron on the front cross member

Model S built after September 2015: under the right-hand front sill trim

Disabling PIN to Drive

 

When the customer brings in the vehicle for testing, make sure that the ‘PIN to Drive’ function is disabled by the customer. When ‘PIN to Drive’ is enabled, some tests cannot be performed when you do not have the customer’s PIN.

Lifting procedure (Model S/Model X)

 

Warning: To reduce the risk of personal injury, use appropriate equipment while performing this operation.

Warning: Never raise the vehicle when a charge cable is connected, even if charging is not in progress.

Warning: Do not work on an incorrectly supported vehicle. Doing so can cause serious damage, bodily injury, or death.

Use the guidelines below to make sure that you are lifting the vehicle safely:

1. Identify whether the vehicle is equipped with air suspension.

Warning: ‘Jack mode’ must be activated on vehicles equipped with air suspension before lifting the vehicle. Failure to do this might lead to suspension damage and could cause serious personal injury.

How to identify whether the vehicle is equipped with air suspension:

  • For Model S, touch Controls (vehicle icon) in the lower left-hand corner (left-hand drive) or lower right-hand corner (right-hand drive) of the touchscreen. If the vehicle is equipped with air suspension, a Suspension tab is shown on the left menu of the touchscreen.
  • All Model X vehicles are equipped with air suspension.


If the vehicle is equipped with air suspension, it automatically self-levels, even when power is off. Use the touchscreen to activate ‘Jack Mode’ to disable automatic self-levelling:

  1. Make sure that the vehicle is powered on (car key is recognised).

  2. On the touchscreen, touch Controls > Suspension.

  3. Press the brake pedal, then touch Very High to maximise the height of the suspension.

  4. Keep the brake pedal pressed, and then touch Controls > Service > Jack Mode to disable self-levelling.


To check whether ‘Jack Mode’ is active, touch Controls > Suspension; the display shows a wheel removed when jack mode is active. Jack Mode can be cancelled by touching the ‘Jack Mode’ button again or by driving the vehicle at a speed over 7 km/h.

2. Position the vehicle centrally between the lift posts.

3. Position the lifting arm pads under the body rails at the four locations shown below (locations in green, Figure 1). DO NOT position the lifting arm pads under the battery or side rails (locations in red, Figure 1).

Figure 1: Lifting points - Model S/Model X

Caution: Make sure that the lifting equipment does not touch the high voltage battery on any other location than on the dedicated lifting points. Lifting the vehicle on other locations than on the indicated lifting points can cause damage to the high voltage battery.

4. Adjust the height and position of the lift arm pads to make sure that they are correctly located.

5. With assistance, raise the lift, making sure that the lift arm pads remain in their correct positions.

Lifting procedure (Model 3/Model Y)

 

Warning: To reduce the risk of personal injury, use appropriate equipment while performing this operation.

Warning: Never raise the vehicle when a charge cable is connected, even if charging is not in progress.

Warning: Do not work on an incorrectly supported vehicle. Doing so can cause serious damage, bodily injury, or death.

Use the guidelines below to make sure that you are lifting the vehicle safely:

  1. Position the vehicle centrally between the lift posts.

  2. Position the lifting arm pads under the four vehicle lifting points on the High Voltage (HV) battery as shown (green locations, Figure 2).

    DO NOT position the lift arm pads on any other position on the HV battery or side rails (red area, Figure 2).

Figure 2: Lifting points on HV battery - Model 3/Model Y

Caution: Make sure that the lifting equipment does not touch the high voltage battery on any other location than on the dedicated lifting points. Lifting the vehicle on other locations than on the indicated lifting points can cause damage to the high voltage battery.

3. Adjust the height and position of the lift arm pads to make sure that they are correctly located.

4. With assistance, raise the lift, making sure that the lift arm pads remain in their correct position.

Keeping The Vehicle In Neutral

As a standard safety feature, Tesla vehicles automatically engage the parking brake when it detects that the driver is leaving the vehicle, even if Neutral has been selected. Enable Tow Mode (Model S/Model X) or Transport Mode (Model 3/Model Y) to make sure that the wheels roll freely without an occupant in the vehicle.
 

Warning: Before entering Tow mode/Transport Mode, make sure that the vehicle is on flat ground and the wheels are chocked to avoid movement. Do not work on a vehicle that does not have its wheels chocked. Doing so can cause serious damage, bodily injury, or death.

Enabling Tow Mode (Model S/Model X)

 

  1. Make sure that the car key is inside the vehicle.

  2. Shift into Park.

  3. Press the brake pedal.

  4. On the touchscreen, touch Controls > Service > Tow Mode.
    The message “[N] Tow Mode enabled. Car will remain free rolling” is displayed on the instrument panel.

TIP: The vehicle enters Tow Mode when you hear the rear parking brake disengage.

NOTE: In Tow Mode, the vehicle does not shift into any driving gear.

To exit Tow Mode, touch the Tow Mode button again and follow the instructions on the Apply Brake pop-up screen (Press and hold the RED button to apply the Parking Brake).

Enabling Transport Mode (Model 3/Model Y)

As a standard safety feature, Tesla vehicles automatically engage the parking brake when it detects a driver is leaving the vehicle, even if Neutral has been selected. Enable Transport Mode to make sure that the wheels roll freely without an occupant in the vehicle.

  1. Make sure that the key card is inside of the vehicle.

  2. Shift into Park.

  3. Press and hold the brake pedal.

  4. On the touchscreen, touch Controls > Service > Towing.
    The towing screen is displayed.

  5. Touch and hold Transport Mode.
    After the parking brake disengages, “Entering Transport Mode, press brake pedal to continue” appears on the touchscreen.

TIP: The vehicle enters Transport Mode when you hear the rear parking brake disengage.

NOTE: In Transport Mode, the vehicle does not shift into a driving gear.

To exit Transport Mode, either:

  • Shift into Park using the gear selector stalk
  • Touch the Transport Mode button again

Electronic Parking Brake (EPB) Test

To test the efficiency of the individual parking brake, EPB Dynamic Mode must be activated. This is designed to slow the vehicle to a stop at a moderate rate using only the parking brake calipers and not the hydraulic brake calipers. This is an emergency feature in case of hydraulic pressure loss.

To activate the EPB Dynamic Mode:

  1. Drive the vehicle on a rolling road.

  2. Shift into Neutral.

  3. Press and hold the Park button on the gear selector stalk until the rear wheels stop rotating.

To release the parking brake, shift into Drive.

Brake Servo Test

Only early Model S vehicles, not equipped with Autopilot (built before September 2014), were equipped with a vacuum assisted Brake Booster (4 in Figure 3).

Figure 3: Vacuum assisted brake booster

To identify whether the vehicle is equipped with Autopilot, touch Controls (vehicle icon) in the lower left-hand corner (left+hand drive) or lower right-hand corner (right+hand drive) of the touchscreen. If the vehicle is equipped with Autopilot, an Autopilot tab is shown on the left menu of the touchscreen.

Performing the Brake Servo Test:

  1. Press the brake pedal. The vehicle turns on and the brake servo activates.

  2. Make sure that the vehicle does not fully power on: move the vehicle key more than 2 meters away from the vehicle.

  3. When "Key Not Inside” displays on the touchscreen, the brake servo is no longer activated and the brake pedal pressure test can then be performed.

To reactivate the brake servo, bring the vehicle key back into range. This will complete the test.