09-03-10 Changes to VOSA fees for 2010/11
On 1 April 2010, following consultation, the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) will be introducing revised fees for statutory and voluntary testing of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and Public Service Vehicles (PSVs).
Some operator licensing fees are abolished and VOSA will also be making refunds to those operators who paid those fees before 20 April 2009 covering periods in 2009/10 and beyond.
The main elements of the statutory fee changes for 2010/11 are:
- no general fee increases for 2010/11;
- increases in fees for full tests of HGVs and PSVs (lorries, buses and coaches) to complete the transfer of funding of some activities (mainly enforcement) from operator licence fees to test fees in accordance with previously announced policies to reform operator licence fees
- abolition of certain operator licence fees from 31 March 2010, as part of the operator licence fee reform - progressive abolition was effected by regulations which came into effect in April 2009;
- refunds of those operator licence fees being abolished, which were paid in advance at pre-20 April 2009 rates to cover periods in 2009/10, - this is part of the operator licensing fee reform funding transfer and was committed to when the 1st phase of the reform was effected in April 2009;
- changes to relevant testing fees to remove the supplements currently paid for tests at non-VOSA premises and equalisation of fees regardless of test location in line with commitments made; and
- expansion of weekday core testing hours - i.e. the hours during which no out of hours supplement is charged.
The consultation process on statutory fees was launched in August 2009 and that on voluntary test fees was launched in February 2009.
Alastair Peoples, Chief Executive of VOSA, said: “We are working hard to ensure our testing transformation programme provides the best possible service for operators. This new fee structure will support that
"In addition, these changes will ensure that the cost of VOSA's vital enforcement activity against dangerous HGVs and PSVs is spread fairly among the whole industry."
The new fees are available to view at: Changes to fees for 2010
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Notes to Editors:
It was announced in July 2008 that testing would continue to proceed in the public sector but that more use should be made of existing and new private sector testing stations to provide services at locations and times more convenient for the majority of customers.. As a result a new style of Authorised Testing Facility (ATF) will be introduced and VOSA testing staff will become much more mobile. The removal of supplements for testing at non-VOSA premises and widening of core testing hours is a further step in support of that move. The changes for 2010/11 are revenue neutral for the industry as a whole.
The changes also complete a fairer spreading of the costs of VOSA's enforcement activity across the transport industry as a whole. Before the process started in April 2009, 340,000 vehicles and trailers did not contribute at all. The majority of vehicles will be making a lower payment to VOSA overall (because the costs of enforcement are spread more widely). The change is revenue neutral for the industry as a whole. The abolition of corresponding operator licence fees comes into full effect from 1 April 2010.
HGV, bus and coach operators currently pay up to 6 different fees to VOSA for operator licence services. The Department of Transport announced plans in November 2006 to simplify these arrangements
How are operator fees affected by the regulations?
HGVs
all vehicle-related operator licensing fees (which include those paid for vehicles on interim licences) were halved in April 2009 and will be abolished by April 2010
refunds will be made to those who paid operator licence fees at pre-20 April 2009 rates to cover periods from April 2009 onwards
Fees for full tests of HGVs will be increased to replace the revenue from the vehicle element of the operator licence
Fees for ‘partial’ retest up to 14 days after refusal of a test certificate and supplements for testing out of hours or at designated premises will not be affected by this merger
PSVs
All PSV operator licensing fees except those charged for: applications for new licences; to vary existing licences; and for continuation of special licences for operators providing local services with licensed taxis were halved in April 2009 and will be abolished by April 2010
refunds will be made to those who paid operator licence fees at pre-20 April 2009 rates to cover periods from April 2009 onwards
Fees for full tests of PSVs will be increased to replace the revenue from the the operator licence fees being abolished
Fees for retest up to 14 days after refusal of a test certificate and supplements for testing put of hours or at designated premises will not be affected by this merger
Voluntary tests enable vehicle operators and maintainers, whose own facilities are limited, to bring their vehicles to VOSA test stations for checks on brake performance, headlamp aim and/or emissions as part of their planned maintenance processes. Such services are also provided on a commercial basis by operators or maintainers who have suitable equipment.
VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) is responsible for:
• Processing applications for licences to operate lorries and buses and registering
bus services.
• Operating and administering testing schemes for all vehicles, including the
supervision of the MOT testing scheme.
• Enforcing the law on vehicles to ensure that they comply with legal standards
and regulations.
• Enforcing drivers' hours and licensing requirements.
• Supporting Traffic Commissioners to help them make informed decisions on operator
licensing, vocational drivers and bus registration requirements.
• Providing training and advice for commercial operators.
• Investigating vehicle accidents, defects and recalls.
For media enquiries about VOSA, please contact Libby Cottingham or Luke Bigwood on 0117 9543208. You can also e-mail press@vosa.gov.uk
Page last updated: 18/03/2010