VOSA lobbying

We lobby VOSA on a number of issue which effect members and have provided below the key areas we are working on at the moment.  If there is any particular issue relating to VOSA or a policy issue you would like us to address, email the legal services team legalservices@bvrla.co.uk

To access further advice and guidance on the work we do with VOSA go to the quick links box on the right

Authorised test facilities

VOSA has begun working with the industry on its plans to move the location of the vehicle test closer to the point of inspection.  Currently, members can develop their premises to be ‘designated premises’ so that testing can take place on site, however, there are no contractual obligations on VOSA to provide the staff to conduct the tests and therefore take up has been minimal.  Also, the fees for test at designated premises are higher than at a test station to cover the cost of travel for the examiner.

Under the new proposals, if you are an authorised testing facility (ATF) you will have a contract with VOSA which stipulates when staff will be made available to you so this will no longer be a problem and VOSA are planning to remove the higher test fee for tests at ATFs.  VOSA are aiming to have 85% of all annual tests taking place at ATFs by 2013. 

VOSA have now published the ATF contract which has been much improved since the first draft and provides financial compensation for operators when a VOSA examiner fails to attend. The contract can be accessed from the link below along with a commercial proposition documet to highlight the costs and benefits of converting premises to ATFs:

ATF contract

Commercial proposition

Access to annual test data

The BVRLA has been lobbying for VOSA to provide members with access to the annual test data for their vehicles where members are not necessarily taking the vehicle to annual test themselves.  The objective of having this data is to ensure that members are able to know whether the vehicle has passed first time or the test has been abandoned along with helping to ensure that we are able to contribute towards the safe and legal operation of our vehicles. A workshop has been held with VOSA and members to discuss how member's can access annual test data and work is now progressing towards a pilot.    

VOSA fees 2010

We have recently responded to VOSA's consultation on their proposals for the fee structure in 2010/11.  Whilst there is no increase in terms of the actual fee, the second part of the merger of the O-licence vehicle fee with the annual test fee will take place which will see members incurring an additional £3 million per annum in new fees.  We have provided below links to the proposed fees for next year and our response.

BVRLA response
Proposed fees for 2010-11

Historic issues

Below are links to the previous consultation responses we have submitted to VOSA:
VOSA fees – January 2009
VOSA framework for fees – October 2008
Retrofitting mirrors – October 2008
VOSA fees – March 2008