The regulations increasing fees for HGV and PSV testing, operator licences, registration of local bus services and other associated matters have been signed by the Minister of State and have now been placed in Parliament.

The fees will rise on 30 September 2005. The increase in fees, averaging 13%, is the third increase in VOSA’s three year programme of such increases.

The increased fees are needed to ensure that costs of testing and licensing are covered, especially for large, multi-axle vehicles that take longer to test and retest. Extra income generated will also be used to invest in facilities and improvements in services.

A number of test stations have been refurbished in the past two years, with work recently completed at Northampton, Aberdeen and Gillingham (Kent). The Leeds site is currently being re-built and work will shortly begin at Leighton Buzzard. Operators and presenters are also benefiting from VOSA’s Operator Self Service facility for licensing, and will be able to book tests and pay for them online by the end of the year.

Stephen Tetlow, Chief Executive of VOSA, said, “The fee strategy we have put in place is enabling us to improve the quality of service we provide. Operators around the country can already see the benefits of the modernisation programme at local test stations while many more are accessing our online services.

“The progress made with the Service Level Agreement we have with the three main trade associations, demonstrates our commitment to improve services and communication. In particular, the Account Manager trial has shown how new ways of working with operators can bring about cost effective improvements in business practice for operators which don’t compromise road safety standards.”