Vosa fee increase fails to cut ATF gap By Robin
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Meczes PROPOSALS TO increase the costs of vehicle testing at Vosa test stations this year will generate an extra £4.2m for the agency from its customers. But just £1.7m of this will be used to lower the charges it applies for vehicle tests at authorised testing facilities (ATFs), it has emerged.
Last week (CM 2 May), Vosa announced a consultation on plans for a range of new fees that would see the charges payable for vehicle tests at its test stations rise by 15% to 20% in the 2013/14 financial year.
The move is intended to allow Vosa to lower the charges it applies to ATFs for the provision of testing services, helping to encourage the use of private facilities and making testing fees fairer.
However, a Vosa spokesman told CM: "Although having tests where, or nearer to where, vehicles are prepared (ie at ATFs) benefits operators by reducing time off the road and the cost to take vehicles to Vosa facilities, which on average is a longer journey, it means Vosa inspectors are less efficient.
"This is expected to increase Vosa's costs by approximately £2.5m, which means there is only about £1.7m remaining to run reduced Vosa fees at ATFs," the spokesman added.
Stephen Smith, president of the ATF Operators Association, said he was disappointed that the move to rebalance fees would not generate bigger cuts in the amount Vosa charges ATFs.