Fees for annual vehicle tests on lorries, trailers and buses carried out at an Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) fell by an average of 3.5% on 1 October.

This means that customers not using DVSA test facilities will no longer contribute to their running costs. The change follows a public consultation. Over 80% of tests are now done at ATFs, which are usually privately owned businesses where a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) examiner conducts the tests.

Fees for tests at DVSA sites will increase by an average of around 18.5% to reflect the loss of subsidy. DVSA plans to provide at least 85% of annual tests from ATFs by 31 March, 2015.

DVSA Chief Executive Alastair Peoples said, “There are now well over 400 ATFs across the country, and our strategy of providing bus and lorry testing at third party sites is already giving customers the choice of using a more convenient, local option. By realigning fees we are now making this even more cost effective for customers.”

Editor’s Note

From 29 October, 2014 all new commercial vehicles must comply with Whole Vehicle Type Approval and be tested appropriately.  The body building industry anticipates that this could increase vehicle costs and cause delays if Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) testing stations become overworked.  Although obtaining their own type approval for each chassis is expensive, some vehicle body builders in the UK have made contingency plans to ensure that they can still supply the vehicles their customers need.  See The Mover next month for a full report.