VOSA has launched a consultation on proposals to change some fees for a range of services it carries out.
This includes fees for:
- HGV and PSV testing, operator licensing and associated services;
- Approval and certification of various vehicles;
- Identity checks on written-off cars seeking re-licensing; and
- Tachograph calibrator approval.
The agency says the proposed changes to fees for statutory services aim to create fairer fees by:
- removing the remaining cross subsidy of VOSA test facility costs from users of Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs);
- charging the cost of extra VOSA resource to service ATFs to ATF users;
- meet additional running costs of interconnection throughout the EU of national registers of operators and their transport managers and more active monitoring of those committing most serious infringements as required by EU regulations; and
- ensure the financial sustainability of VOSA.
The consultation also includes a proposal on fees for Reduced Pollution Certificate inspections carried out by the Driver and Vehicle Agency in Northern Ireland and an increase to charges for voluntary services provided by VOSA.
The largest changes result in re-distributing costs between those using VOSA test facilities and ATFs. While a breakdown of the fees can be found in the Annex 1 fee table on the link below, it is sufficient to say fees for PCVs over 23 seats will rise 18% at VOSA sites. However, they will fall 2.3% at ATFs.
VOSA CEO Alastair Peoples said: “After four years with no general fee increases, VOSA will continue to absorb most costs and keep general rises to a minimal 1%.
“This is good news for our customers as the increase is far below inflation. “I am also pleased to be able to propose a fairer allocation of costs between customers having their vehicles tested at ATFs and VOSA test stations.
I am keen to hear the views from customers on our proposals.”
The full consultation, which is open until June 11, 2013 can be found at: https://tinyurl. com/corfksy
