19-08-04 Higher Fees for a Better Service
Fees for HGV and PSV testing, operator licences and international permits will rise on 30 August 2004. The increase in fees, on average 10% above inflation, has been agreed with the Minister (after consultation with the Trade) and is the second increase in a 3 year programme.
The extra income from the increased fees will be used to address the deficits in the accounts for the schemes we operate. The reason for the deficit the in the accounts for testing of large multi axle vehicles and re-tests (both free and paid) have in the past cost more than the income we received. Operators and presenters of smaller vehicles and those whose vehicles passed first time were therefore subsidising our other customers.
In the longer term the extra income will be used to invest in facilities and improvements in services. Operators and presenters already benefit from operator self service. Stations at Gillingham and Aberdeen will be re-opening in the spring, following their re-builds. Also in 2005, Operators and presenters will be able to take advantage of on-line test bookings and credit/debit card payments.
Maurice Newey, Chief Executive of VOSA said:
“The fees strategy we have put in place offers the prospect of very much improved customer services. I believe the proposed programme of modernisation and refurbishment will do much to meet the reasonable aspirations of the Trade for good quality accessible services.”
VOSA has already completed a re-furbishment programme at Kidderminster GVTS and this is now the model for other stations that will follow. Operator Self Service which allows operators to access their records any time of the day or night was launched at the end of July. Already in this short time 7,000 operators are now using the system.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) was created on 1 April 2003 by merging the Former Vehicle Inspectorate and the Traffic Area Network Division of the Department for Transport. VOSA 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 accident, defects and recalls.
Page last updated: 25/09/2006