Proposed increases in the fees charged by the DVSA (formerly Vosa and the DSA) for a range of services, including vehicle testing, have still not been confirmed – more than seven months after a consultation on the proposals ended.
The consultation, which ran from 30 April to 11 June last year, suggested the new fees were hoped to take effect by the end of 2013.
It proposed a 15% to 20% rise in charges for annual vehicle tests at DVSA test stations, with test fees rising from £98 ex-VAT to £113 (up 15.3%) for a two-axle truck and from £123 to £145 (up 17.9%) for a three-axle unit.
Test fees for a two-axle trailer were proposed to rise 20.3% from £59 to £71.
It remains unclear, however, whether the move, which is intended to redistribute costs more fairly between vehicle operators using DVSA test stations and those using authorised testing facilities (ATFs), is still going ahead.
Under the proposals, charges to ATFs for testing were set to decrease by 1% to 3%, leaving them at £92 for a two-axle truck, £115 for a three-axle unit, and £55 for a two-axle trailer.
No final decision yet
A DVSA spokesperson told Motortransport.co.uk: "The outcome of the fee consultation for HGV and PSV testing, operator licensing, other DVSA services and some Driver and Vehicle Agency services is currently being analysed.
"It will be published once ministers have considered the views and what action they intend to take. We are currently submitting final impact assessments for review and it is likely to be early 2014 before any further updates could be made."
ATF Operators Association president Stephen Smith welcomed the proposed changes when the consultation was published but has pointed out that ATFs will still be forced to charge more for vehicle tests than DVSA stations, making them a relatively unattractive option for vehicle owners within range of a DVSA station.
