The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has introduced new maximum service charges for authorised testing facilities carrying out MOT tests on heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches and trailers. The revised limits took effect on 6 July following a public consultation that attracted more than 630 responses.
The changes apply only to authorised testing facilities (ATFs) and do not affect MOT prices for cars or motorcycles. According to the DVSA, the revised charging limits are intended to help testing facilities manage increasing operating costs and support future investment in testing equipment.
The updated charges follow a consultation launched last year, during which the DVSA sought views from drivers, businesses and testing facilities on proposals to revise the maximum amounts that ATFs are permitted to charge customers for the use of their premises. The agency said it would publish a more detailed summary of the consultation responses in due course.
New Maximum Charges Introduced for Heavy Vehicle MOT Testing
Authorised testing facilities are the approved MOT centres responsible for testing heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches and trailers. From today, these facilities can charge a maximum of £70 for heavy goods vehicle tests, £50 for trailer tests and £90 for buses and coaches.
These figures replace the previous maximum charges of £55 for heavy goods vehicles, £40 for trailers and £70 for buses and coaches. According to the DVSA, the revised limits are designed to help authorised testing facilities meet rising costs while enabling them to plan for future testing equipment requirements.
The consultation received more than 630 responses from interested parties. According to the DVSA, 99 per cent of authorised testing facilities supported the proposals, while support also reached 95 per cent among respondents who were both vehicle operators and authorised testing facilities.
Support was lower among vehicle operators alone, although a majority still backed the changes. The consultation found that 62 per cent of vehicle operators supported the proposals, exceeding the proportion of respondents who opposed them.
Car and Motorcycle MOT Fees Remain Unchanged
While the revised limits increase the maximum service charges for heavy vehicle testing, they do not alter MOT prices for private cars or motorcycles. According to the DVSA, the maximum MOT fee for cars remains £54.85, while the fee for motorcycles stays at £29.65.
The agency also noted that the revised service charges for authorised testing facilities have not been increased in line with Consumer Prices Index inflation. Had the limits been adjusted to reflect inflation, the maximum charges would have reached £85 for heavy goods vehicles, £62 for trailers and £108 for buses and coaches.
According to the DVSA, the consultation was intended to ensure that authorised testing facilities can continue operating sustainably while maintaining sufficient testing capacity for the vehicle operating industries. The agency said that supporting testing facilities through the revised charging structure would help them address rising costs and prepare for future equipment needs.
According to GB News, the DVSA has confirmed that it will publish a fuller summary of the consultation findings as soon as possible. The changes introduced on 6 July now set the new maximum service charges that authorised testing facilities may apply for heavy vehicle MOT testing across Great Britain, while leaving the existing fee limits for cars and motorcycles unchanged.
