Explanatory note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 (“the 1981 Regulations”). Those Regulations make provision for certain motor vehicles to be examined by persons authorised by the Secretary of State and for test certificates to be issued for vehicles that are found to meet certain requirements. These certificates are commonly referred to as “MOT Certificates”.
Regulation 3 makes amendments to regulation 20 of the 1981 Regulations. Regulation 20 prescribes the fees payable for examinations of vehicles pursuant to applications made under regulation 12 of those Regulations.
The increased fees for testing vehicles, other than those in Classes VI or VIA, take account of inflation; for vehicles in classes IV, IVA, V, VA and VII to reflect the increased time to conduct an average MOT test due to the increased number of catalyst-equipped vehicles in the fleet; and for motor bicycles with or without a side car to reflect the increased time to conduct an average MOT test. The new fees, with the percentage increase since the fees were last fixed being shown in brackets, are set out in the Table below.
Table
| Nature of examination | Existing fee (£) | Substituted fee (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Motor bicycles without a side car. | 15.55 | 23.80 (53.1%) |
| Motor bicycles with a side car. | 25.45 | 30.40 (19.4%) |
| Vehicles in Class III (“light motor vehicles” other than motor bicycles). | 29.70 | 30.40 (2.4%) |
| Vehicles in Class IV (“motor cars” and “heavy motor cars” not being vehicles within Class III, IVA,, V, VA, or VII)—
| 44.05 42.10 | 46.15 (4.8%) 44.15 (4.9%) |
| Vehicles in Class IVA (being minibuses which are not within Class IV; the vehicles in this Class cover “minibuses”, other than those excluded by virtue of a certificate of initial fitness issued on or after 1st August 1998 or compliance with certain type of approval requirements, not being vehicles within Class III, V or VA in respect of which any forward-facing seat is fitted with a relevant seat belt). | 49.35 | 51.55 (4.5%) |
| Vehicles in Class V (“large passenger-carrying vehicles”, particular public service vehicles and “play buses” not being vehicles within Class VA)—
| 63.45 46.80 | 65.00 (2.4%) 47.95 (2.5%) |
| Vehicles in Class VA (“large passenger-carrying vehicles”, particular public service vehicles and “play buses”, other than those excluded by virtue of a certificate of initial fitness issued on or after 1st August 1998 or compliance with certain type approval requirements, in respect of which any forward-facing seat is fitted with a relevant seat belt)—
| 98.00 63.30 | 100.40 (2.4%) 64.85 (2.4%) |
| Vehicles in Class VII (goods vehicles with a design gross weight of more than 3,000 kg but not more than 3,500 kg). | 45.60 | 47.20 (3.5%) |
In the case of the vehicles mentioned above, under regulation 21 of the 1981 Regulations, the fee payable on an appeal against a notice of the refusal of a test certificate is the same amount as the fee payable for an examination. Those fees are increased accordingly.
Regulation 4 amends regulation 23 of the 1981 Regulations so that the fee for a duplicate test certificate for a motorbike without a side car is now £10, instead of being half the fee payable for an examination of the vehicle. This means that the same fee is now paid by all vehicle classes for a duplicate test certificate.
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 number: 020 7944 2455). A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.