The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 2004

These Regulations further amend the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988 (“the 1988 Regulations”). Regulations 3, 4 and 5 make extensive amendments to the fees prescribed by the 1988 Regulations.

Regulation 3 changes the fee payable on an application for a first examination or periodical test as shown in Table 1 below (with the percentage increase shown in brackets).

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 11.8% from £25.50 to £28.50 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 12.5 % from £16 to £18 in the case of a trailer (regulation 12(4) of the 1988 Regulations). 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 11.1% from £9 to £10 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 25% from £4 to £5 in the case of a trailer (regulation 12(4A) of the 1988 Regulations).

Regulation 4 removes the single fee of £23.50 in the case of a motor vehicle, or £12.50 in the case of a trailer, for a re-test or further re-test carried out within 14 days after the vehicle’s first examination, periodic test or previous re-test and introduces different fees for different sizes of vehicle (regulation 16(1) and regulation 16(3) of the 1988 Regulations). The new fees are shown in Table 2 below (with the percentage increase shown in brackets).

Where the appointment for a re-test or further re-test within 14 days is, at the applicant’s request, “out of hours”, the supplement to the normal fee is increased by 12% from £12.50 to £14 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 25% from £8 to £10 in the case of a trailer (regulation 16(4) of the 1988 Regulations). 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 9.1% from £5.50 to £6 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 25% from £2 to £2.50 in the case of a trailer (regulation 16(4A) of the 1988 Regulations).

Where the normal fee for a re-test or further re-test is prescribed by regulation 16(2) of the 1988 Regulations, the supplement payable for an appointment which is, at the applicant’s request, “out of hours” is increased by 11.8% from £25.50 to £28.50 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 12.5% from £16 to £18 in the case of a trailer (regulation 16(5) of the 1988 Regulations). 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 11.1% from £9 to £10 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 25% from £4 to £5 in the case of a trailer (regulation 16(5A) of the 1988 Regulations).

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 11.8% from £17 to £19 (regulation 34(1) of the 1988 Regulations). 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 £10 (regulation 34(2) of the 1988 Regulations). 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 9.1% from £5.50 to £6 in the case of a motor vehicle. In the case of a trailer the fee remains unchanged at £2 (regulation 34(2A) of the 1988 Regulations).

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 11.8% from £17 to £19 (regulation 37B(2) of the 1988 Regulations).

Regulation 4(5) introduces a fee of £10 in the case of a motor car and £5 in the case of a trailer for a re-test carried out in the circumstances specified in regulation 16(6) of the 1988 Regulations. Such re-tests were previously provided without charge.

A vehicle submitted for a goods vehicle test in accordance with the 1988 Regulations must comply with the requirements of paragraph 4 of Part II of Schedule 3 to those Regulations. The condition of the vehicle must be such that its use on the road would not involve a danger of injury to any person having particular regard to certain items. Regulation 6 adds “loading devices” and “load securing devices” to the list of descriptions of items to which particular regard must be given.

A full regulatory impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business is available from the Department for Transport, 5th floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London SW1E 6DT (telephone 020 7944 2455). A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.