Explanatory note

These Regulations further amend the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988 (“the 1988 Regulations”).

Regulation 3 makes a consequential amendment to regulation 3 (interpretation) of the 1988 Regulations.

Regulation 4 amends regulation 8 of the 1988 Regulations to the effect that an examiner is under no obligation to carry out an examination on certain motor vehicles propelled by diesel engines where an exhaust system has been so altered that with the facilities and apparatus available to him he is unable to test the exhaust emissions immediately after leaving that exhaust system.

Regulation 5 amends Part VI (miscellaneous matters) of the 1988 Regulations by adding a new regulation 42A. This provides that any plating certificate, goods vehicle test certificate, notice of the refusal of a goods vehicle test certificate or certificate of temporary exemption is deemed to be duly signed if it bears a facsimile of the signature of the relevant goods vehicle examiner, authorised or appointed person or appeal officer.

Regulation 6 makes extensive amendments relating to fees.

The fee payable on an application for a first examination or periodical test undergoes the changes shown in the Table below (with the percentage increase shown in brackets). However, where the appointment for such an examination or test is, at the applicant’s request, “out of hours”, the supplement to the normal fee is increased by 7.7% from £19.50 to £21 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 5.7% from £12.30 to £13 in the case of a trailer. Where the vehicle testing station appointed for such an examination or test is, at the applicant’s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is “out of hours ”, further supplement, is increased by 12% from £6.25 to £7 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 9.4% from £3.20 to £3.50 in the case of a trailer.

The fee for a re-test or further re-test within 14 days after the first examination or earlier re-test is increased by 8% from £17.60 to £19 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 13.6% from £8.80 to £10 in the case of a trailer. However, where the appointment for such a re-test is, at the applicant’s request “out of hours”, the supplement to the normal fee is increased by 2% from £9.80 to £10 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 6.6% from £6.10 to £6.50 in the case of a trailer. Where the vehicle testing station appointed for such a re-test or further re-test is, at the applicant’s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is “out of hours ”, further supplement, is increased by 14.3% from £3.50 to £4 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 25% from £1.60 to £2 in the case of a trailer.

The fee for a re-test in other circumstances undergoes the changes shown in the Table below, save that the supplement for such a re-test, where the appointment is, at the applicant’s request, “out of hours”, is increased by 7.7% from £19.50 to £21 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 5.7% from £12.30 to £13 in the case of a trailer. Where the vehicle testing station appointed for a re-test is, at the applicant’s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is “out of hours”, further supplement, is increased by 12% from £6.25 to £7 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 9.4% from £3.20 to £3.50 in the case of a trailer.

The fee payable on a request for an amendment to a plating certificate following a notifiable alteration or for a re-examination where a particular in the certificate is or may be no longer applicable is increased by 3.7% from £13.50 to £14. However where an appointment for a re-examination following a notifiable alteration or with a view to amendment of a plating certificate is, at the applicant’s request, “out of hours”, the supplement to the normal fee remains unchanged at £8.40. Where the vehicle testing station appointed for such a re-examination is, at the applicant’s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is “out of hours”, further supplement, is increased by 14.3% from £3.50 to £4 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 25% from £1.60 to £2 in the case of a trailer.

The fee payable for the alteration of the plated weights (or any of the plated weights) for a vehicle without an examination is increased by 3.7% from £13.50 to £14.

Where an applicant for an examination cannot or does not propose to proceed with the examination and gives the Secretary of State notice under regulation 39(3)(b)(ii) that no other examination of the same kind is required the fee payable remains unchanged at £1.50.

A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions, Zone 2/05, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR (Telephone: 020 7944 2467). A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.