Explanatory Note
(This note is not part of the Regulations)
These Regulations further amend the Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 (“the 1981 Regulations”). Those Regulations make provision for certain motor vehicles to be examined by persons authorised by the Secretary of State and for test certificates to be issued for vehicles that are found to meet certain requirements. These certificates are commonly referred to as “MOT Certificates”.
Regulation 13 of the 1981 Regulations relates to requirements for vehicles submitted for examination. Regulation 3 of these Regulations makes amendments which enable an examiner or an inspector to refuse to carry out an examination of a Class VI or VIa motor vehicle if wheelchair restraining devices are not installed in the vehicle at the time it is submitted for examination.
Regulation 20 of the 1981 Regulations prescribes the fees payable for examinations of vehicles pursuant to applications made under regulation 12 of those Regulations. Regulation 20 is amended by regulations 4 and 5 of these Regulations.
Regulation 4 increases, from 1st November 2001, the fees payable for test examinations of vehicles except those in class VI or VIa. The increases are as follows, with the percentage increase since the fees were last fixed (in October 2000) being shown in brackets—
(a)motor bicycles without a side car, from £13.70 to £14.30 (4.38%);
(b)motor bicycles with a side car, from £22.70 to £23.50 (3.52%);
(c)vehicles in Class III (“light motor vehicles” other than motor bicycles), from £26.60 to £27.50 (3.38%);
(d)vehicles in Class IV (“motor cars” and “heavy motor cars” not being vehicles within Class III, IVa, V, Va, VI, VIa, or VII—
(i)from £35.90 to £39.40 (9.75%) if the vehicle is a minibus, and
(ii)from £34 to £37.60 (10.59%) in any other case;
(e)vehicles in Class IVa (being minibuses which are not within Class IV). The vehicles in this Class cover “minibuses”, other than those excluded by virtue of a certificate of initial fitness issued on or after 1st August 1998 or compliance with certain type approval requirements, not being vehicles within Class III, V or Va in respect of which any forward facing seat is fitted with a relevant seat belt: from £40.75 to £44.40 (8.96%).
(f)vehicles in Class V (“large passenger-carrying vehicles”, particular public service vehicles and “play buses” not being vehicles within Class Va)—
(i)from £54.15 to £58.90 (8.77%) if the vehicle is constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 passengers, and
(ii)from £41.70 to £43.40 (4.08%) in any other case;
(g)vehicles in Class Va (“large passenger-carrying vehicles”, particular public service vehicles and “play buses”, other than those excluded by virtue of a certificate of initial fitness issued on or after 1st August 1998 or compliance with certain type approval requirements, in respect of which any forward-facing seat is fitted with a relevant seat belt)—
(i)from £80.30 to £87.05 (8.38%) if the vehicle is constructed or adapted to carry more than 16 passengers, and
(ii)from £50.60 to £55.50 (9.64%) in any other case; and
(h)vehicles in Class VII (goods vehicles with a design gross weight of more than 3,000 but not more than 3,500 kgs), from £35.75 to £39.20 (9.65%).
In the case of the vehicles mentioned above, under regulation 21 of the 1981 Regulations the fee payable on an appeal against a notice of the refusal of a test certificate is the same amount as the fee payable for the examination; and under regulation 23 of those Regulations, the fee for a duplicate test certificate in respect of a motor bicycle without a side car is half that fee. These fees are therefore increased automatically because of the increase in the fee for the examination.
The fee payable for the supply of 100 forms of test certificate is increased from £94 to £119 (26.59%).
Regulation 5 adds tyres and wheels (other than in respect of vehicles in Class I or II) to the list of items in regulation 20(3A)(b) (no fee payable for the re-examination of vehicles in certain classes where the re-examination relates to one or more of the matters listed).
A regulatory impact assessment has been prepared and copies can be obtained from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, Zone 2/05, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR (Telephone: 020-7944 2457). A copy has been placed in each house of Parliament.