The fee for calibration and periodic inspection of tachographs will be deregulated from 1 January, 2012 following a consultation with the industry.

The deregulation of the fee will:

• Allow the Approved Tachograph Centres and vehicle operators to negotiate a fair fee for the calibration and inspection of tachographs;

• Result in geographical variations in cost being accounted for;

• Better support vehicle operators looking to have tachographs calibrated during unsociable hours;

• “Future-proof” calibration/inspection against technological changes which will affect how much work will be involved in the inspection and calibration of tachographs;

• Remove the need for future government involvement in fee setting;

• Incentivise companies considering becoming an Approved Tachograph Centre.  From January the fee charged by Approved Tachograph Centres will be a commercial matter to be agreed with the customer presenting the vehicle.

The existing fees are still in place up to and including 31 December, 2011.  A summary of the consultation responses can be found at: http://www.vosa.gov.uk/tachograph-fee-deregulation.