The revised charges are intended to help testing facilities manage higher operating costs while supporting the long-term sustainability of the heavy vehicle testing network, according to the DVSA.
The changes apply only to the maximum service charge that Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) may charge customers for using their testing facilities. They do not alter the statutory MOT test fees for these vehicle categories, nor do they affect the maximum MOT prices for cars and motorcycles.
According to the DVSA, the consultation on the proposals ran from 25 September to 21 November 2025 and received 634 responses from across the industry. Most respondents supported the increase, with particularly strong backing from authorised testing facilities.
New Maximum Service Charges Will Take Effect in July
From 6 July 2026, the maximum service charge for heavy goods vehicles will increase from £55 to £70. The maximum charge for trailers will rise from £40 to £50, while buses and coaches will see the maximum service charge increase from £70 to £90.
According to the DVSA, these revised figures remain below the levels that would have applied if the charges had been increased in line with Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation. Under an inflation-linked increase, the maximum service charges would have reached £85 for HGVs, £62 for trailers and £108 for buses and coaches.
The agency said the revised charges are designed to help authorised testing facilities cover rising operating costs while allowing them to plan for future investment in testing equipment. The proposals also aim to maintain a stable and sustainable testing network and encourage additional testing capacity where it would benefit vehicle operators.
The consultation found that 99 per cent of authorised testing facilities supported increasing the maximum service charge. Support also reached 95 per cent among respondents who were both vehicle operators and ATFs, while 62 per cent of vehicle operators backed the proposals.
Car and Motorcycle MOT Charges Remain Unchanged
The changes announced by the DVSA do not affect the maximum MOT charges for cars or motorcycles. According to the agency, the maximum MOT fee for a car will remain at £54.85, while the maximum fee for a motorcycle will stay at £29.65.
Separately, the Department for Transport has confirmed that electric vans weighing between 3.5 and 4.25 tonnes will move to the Class 7 MOT testing regime. According to the information provided by the Department for Transport, this change is intended to reduce administrative requirements for operators and could allow savings of up to 60 per cent on MOT costs for eligible vehicles.
The DVSA has also confirmed that it will publish a more detailed summary of the consultation responses. The agency said the revised service charges are intended to support authorised testing facilities in meeting increasing costs while helping ensure that operators of heavy goods vehicles, buses, coaches and trailers continue to have access to MOT testing services across the network.
