Changing the cost of DVSA services for 2021 to 2022
Updated 18 January 2022
Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/changing-the-cost-of-dvsa-services-for-2021-to-2022/changing-the-cost-of-dvsa-services-for-2021-to-2022
1. Background
This consultation proposes increasing the fees paid for driving tests, vehicle tests and other services provided by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA). These include:
- theory and practical driving tests for learner drivers and approved driving instructors
- vehicle tests for roadworthiness and certification (some of which also fund our enforcement work)
- MOT services
DVSA provides or administers these tests.
The income we receive from fees covers the services we provide. Taxpayers do not generally fund our services. We set our fees at a level to break even.
Before changing our fees, we have to consult publicly and get approval from Parliament.
The new fees will help us to cover the costs of previous investments to improve our services. We are proposing to increase our statutory fees by about 1.5%.
Modernising services
Over recent years, we have improved and modernised the driving test. We want to continue to make the service better and more flexible for those who use it. Examples of how we continue to improve our services are set out in this section.
Driving test services
We’re now using tablets to record driving test results. Giving our staff modern tools like tablets helps us to:
- improve customer service, because it allows us to send test results electronically to DVLA immediately - this makes it quicker to get a full driving licence
- make our records more accurate than the old pen and paper version
- share information about candidates’ tests with them electronically
- reduce the potential for fraud
We’re also working to develop a new theory test service. Since we introduced the theory test in 1996, a third-party supplier has administered and carried out the theory test for us.
We’re changing that to allow us to develop the future test ourselves. This will include the:
- booking system
- test software
- customer service centre
This will make the service better and more flexible for customers.
Vehicle testing and enforcement services
The Department for Transport (DfT) has recently completed a review of heavy vehicle testing with input from across the industry. A clear message was that flexible and convenient services are most important to making sure the industry is efficient. We’ll continue to work with the industry to improve these services which may come at a further cost.
We have continued to invest in our vehicle testing services to make sure they meet the needs of our customers.
For heavy vehicle testing, we’re also increasing the use of modern technology to improve how we run our services. Like the driving test, we’ve moved to digitally recording vehicle defects during the test.
We’ve made test result data digitally accessible and have put in place new digital services, including one to give information to customers about test slots available at the authorised test facilities.
The more that test information is recorded electronically, the easier it will be for the public to have access to that information, which will include more detailed information on test failures.
We’ve continued to invest in improving the effectiveness of our enforcement. This means that we can better concentrate our effort on identifying and taking action against those that do not comply with the law.
For the MOT for cars, motorcycles and vans, we’ve continued to invest in the digital MOT testing service. This includes:
- increasing the information available to MOT centres to help them manage quality
- allowing some types of equipment to connect directly to the service use to record MOT test results, which means test results can be automatically transferred to the service without the need for manual data entry
For all these services, we’ll make sure we’re prepared for the challenges coming from developments in technology that will affect drivers and vehicles in the years ahead.
The fees have not kept up with inflation
The fees for our services have stayed largely the same for over 10 years. For example, the car driving test fee last changed in 2009 when it was increased to £62.
We reduced the cost of theory tests in 2014 and 2015.
The fees have not kept up with inflation. If they had, they would now cost:
- £75 for a car driving test (currently £62)
- £38 for a car or motorcycle theory test (if the theory test fee had not been reduced) (currently £23)
- £146 for a vehicle test with 3 axles at a non-DVSA site (currently £113)
Making efficiency savings
To offset cost pressures, we’ve made significant savings through efficiency measures in the last few financial years. The savings have exceeded our business plan targets.
We’re committed to further efficiency measures to limit any fee increases.
Avoiding a shortfall in our income
The ongoing investment in our services and keeping the fees the same for so long means we’re facing a shortfall in our income if we do nothing. This is because our fees will no longer cover our costs.
We want to take action now to avoid that happening. This will make sure we meet our obligations to cover our services from the fees we receive.
If we do not increase our fees
If our fees stay at their present levels, we will not be able to continue to provide services to their current standards. For example, driving test waiting times may rise.
We may also be unable to continue enforcement activity at present levels. This would reduce the chance of dangerous operators being detected, and increase the possibility of serious accidents.
How we’ll use the additional income
We plan to use the additional income from the proposed new fees to ensure that we have sufficient income to cover the cost of providing the services essential to keeping the public safe on Britain’s roads.
We’ll confirm the date the fees will change nearer the time if ministers agree to them after this consultation.
The effect of coronavirus (COVID-19)
Since March 2020, our activities have been significantly impacted by the coronavirus pandemic. Many of our frontline services have been suspended during lockdowns. We continue to manage the suspension, restart and recovery of services in response to different restrictions across Great Britain.
The costs of maintaining the agency during this period have been funded from reserves and emergency funding from government. The fee increases are not to cover these costs.
2. Why we need to do this
We need to avoid a future shortfall in funds and fund future work.
The fees customers pay are set out in law, and can be changed only by changing that law.
To introduce the fees this paper proposes, Parliament will need to approve changes to the relevant regulations.
We’re running this consultation to help us understand what business and the public think about the new fees we are proposing.
We’ll report consultees’ views to ministers. They’ll consider those views when they decide whether to introduce the new fees.
3. What we’re proposing
We’re proposing to increase fees for our statutory services by about 1.5%.
These are at a level that will take steps to offset cost pressures.
You can see the full list of proposed fees for DVSA services for 2021 to 2022. Some of the main fees are summarised here.
Driving tests
| Test type | Current fee | Proposed fee for 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| Theory test (car and motorcycle) | £23 | £23.40 |
| Car driving test (normal hours) | £62 | £62.90 |
| Car driving test (out of hours) | £75 | £76.10 |
| Lorry driving test | £115 | £116.70 |
MOT fees for MOT centres
| Description | Current fee | Proposed fee for 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| MOT slot fee paid by MOT centres for each test they carry out | £2.05 | £2.08 |
MOT for HGVs, buses and trailers
| Test type | Current fee | Proposed fee for 2021 to 2022 |
|---|---|---|
| HGV - 2 axles | £91 | £92.40 |
| HGV - 3 axles | £113 | £114.70 |
| HGV - 4 axles | £137 | £139.10 |
| HGV trailer - 3+ axles | £64 | £65 |
| Bus or coach - 23+ passengers | £128 | £129.90 |
4. Consultation questions
The online questionnaire includes the following specific questions relating to the proposed 1.5% increase:
- Do you support the development of DVSA’s services for a better experience for the customer?
- Fees have not increased for over a decade. Do you think these modest fee increases are a fair way to ensure current service level are maintained?
- Do you wish to see the continued delivery of driving and vehicle services to at least the current standard of service?
- Do you agree with the continuing modernisation of our services to take account of new technology available?
5. How to respond
The consultation runs from 5 August to 11:59pm on 2 September 2021.
Fill in the online questionnaire to give your views.
When you respond, tell us whether you’re doing this for yourself or for an organisation.
If you’re responding for a larger organisation, tell us:
- who the organisation represents
- how you gathered members’ views (if you can)
Contact DVSA if you have any questions about this consultation.
DVSA Policy team
consultations@dvsa.gov.uk
6. What happens next
We’ll use consultation responses to tell ministers about your views.
We’ll publish the outcome on the GOV.UK website.
If ministers agree to the changes, we’ll confirm the date the fees will change nearer the time they take effect.
7. Privacy and Freedom of Information
We collect, use and store your personal data so that we can record and analyse your response to the consultation. We may share your personal data if we have a lawful reason, for example, as part of a criminal investigation or to prevent fraud.
Read the DVSA consultations privacy notice to find out how we collect, use and store your data.
DVSA is an executive agency of DfT. The data controller for DVSA is DfT - a data controller determines the reasons and how personal data is processed.
For more information see the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) Data Protection Public Register. DfT’s registration number is Z7122992.
Freedom of Information requests
We might need to publish or share some or all of your response to this consultation in line with the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA) or the Environmental Information Regulations 2004.
Under the FOIA, there is a statutory code of practice that we have to comply with. It covers how we deal with confidential information.
Tell us if you think any information you have given us is confidential. If we get a request to see all or part of your response, we’ll consider what you have told us before we decide whether to release it. We cannot promise to keep all the information you have given us confidential.
Some IT systems produce an automatic confidentiality disclaimer. We do not always recognise them.
8. Consultation principles
This consultation follows the government consultation principles. These principles give clear guidance to us on running consultations.