DVSA announce bus & coach test fees to fall
Annual test fees are set to fall for most buses and coaches, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Chief Executive, Alastair Peoples, has announced. Fees will fall for more than 80% of customers from 1 October following a consultation. The DVSA had also consulted on a general 1% increase to all test fees, but has decided not to implement the change, meaning there has been no general fee increase since 2009. There are now over 400 Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) across the country as part of the DVSA’s strategy of providing bus and lorry testing at third party sites. The change means that at private ATF sites, where over 80% of all annual tests take place, customers will no longer contribute to the cost of DVSA facilities, meaning test costs will fall by an average of around 3.5%. At DVSA sites, where the cost of delivering tests is higher, fees will increase by an average of around 18.5%.
In addition to the changes to test fees, DVSA is also adjusting fees for PSV operator licences. These will rise by 1% to cover the running costs associated with the National Register of licensed operators. The register has been introduced as part of EU legislation aimed at creating a more level playing field for international transport operations and reducing distortion of competition across the EU. Visit www.gov.uk/government/news/lorry-bus-and-trailer-annual-test-fees-to-fall for more information and details of the new fees.