The Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981

EXPLANATORY NOTE

1. These Regulations re-enact, with revisions and extensions, the provisions of the Motor Vehicle (Tests) Regulations 1976. The 1976 regulations are repealed, together with the other amending regulations mentioned in Schedule 4 to these regulations.

2. The principal changes now made are—

(a)

The regulations apply to public service vehicles, most of which are classified as Class VI. An application for an examination of a Class VI vehicle is to be made to the Secretary of State at the Goods Vehicle Centre (PSV Section), Swansea, and the appropriate fee is to accompany the application. An application for a re-examination of a Class VI vehicle, following an examination at which it was found that some or all of the statutory requirements were not complied with, is to be made to the Secretary of State at a goods vehicle testing station or a traffic area office. The prescribed statutory requirements in relation to Class VI vehicles include a number of requirements not specified in relation to vehicles in other classes. These are set out in Schedule 2.

(b)

Vehicles in respect of which a test certificate issued in accordance with article 34 of the Road Traffic (Northern Ireland) Order 1981 is in force are exempted from Section 44 of the 1972 Act.

(c)

The vehicle registration book must be produced, if the examiner so requests, when a vehicle is submitted for examination; if no such document has been issued in respect of the vehicle, other evidence must be produced of the date of manufacture or first use and the chassis or identification number.

(d)

Any signature on a test certificate, or notice of refusal of a test certificate, signed on behalf of an authorised examiner or designated council, shall be accompanied by an embossment by a stamp of the examiner or council on whose behalf the certificate or notice is signed.

(e)

After an examination of a Class III, IV, V or VI vehicle is completed, the examiner (or inspector appointed by a designated council or the Secretary of State) shall in all cases issue an inspection check list on a form approved by the Secretary of State, in addition to the test certificate, or notice of refusal of a test certificate.

3. The prescribed fees for testing are—

• Motor cycle not having a side-car attached to it, £4.26 (unchanged);

• Class VI vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 12 passengers, £29;

• Class VI vehicle not constructed or adapted to carry more than 12 passengers, £20;

• Any other vehicle, £7.10 (unchanged).

These fees are reduced in certain cases as provided in Regulation 20(3) for vehicles not in Class VI and in Regulation 20(4) for vehicles in Class VI. Regulation 21 prescribes fees on appeals.