4. Payments and fees
How application and testing event fees work, what DVSA pays you, and how to manage your pre-funded account.
Each testing event has a set fee based on the number of hours you book.
The amount of the fee that you need to pay depends on how much DVSA received in application fees for that event.
If the total application fees for a testing event are less than the testing event fee, DVSA will deduct the difference from your pre-funded account.
You will not need to pay anything if the total application fees are the same as or more than the testing event fee.
Testing event fees
| Hours booked | Fee |
|---|---|
| 4 | £280 |
| 5 | £350 |
| 6 | £420 |
| 7 | £490 |
| 8 | £560 |
| 9 | £630 |
Example of when you have to pay
You book a 7-hour testing event. The testing event fee is £490.
You apply to DVSA for 2 vehicles to be tested. The application fees come to £398.
As this is less than the testing event fee, DVSA will take £92 (£490 minus £398) from your pre-funded account.
Example of when you do not have to pay
You book a 7-hour testing event. The testing event fee is £490.
You apply to DVSA for 4 vehicles to be tested. The total application fees come to £796.
As this is more than the testing event fee, you do not need to pay anything else.
You cannot charge customers a fee for getting their vehicle tested at your site.
Instead, DVSA will pay you a fee for each vehicle tested at your centre. This is called a ‘lane service payment’.
You will be paid 20% of the application or retest fee, plus VAT. If your centre is not VAT registered, the payment is 20% only.
DVSA will pay this into your pre-funded account after the testing event is completed.
You will be set up with a pre-funded account once your centre has been approved. This is a debit account used for payments to and from DVSA.
Managing your pre-funded account
Your site manager will be registered as the account holder.
The site manager:
- must make sure there’s enough money in the account to cover payments to DVSA
- may authorise other users to pay DVSA on their behalf
- is responsible for all actions on the account
Topping up your account
You can make payments into your pre-funded account using the manage your vehicle testing service. You can pay by:
- debit card
- credit card
- Direct Debit
You can also pay by posting a cheque or postal order.
DVSA Finance
The Ellipse
Padley Road
Swansea
SA1 8AN
If there’s not enough money in the account, DVSA will contact you and ask you to top up your account.