The Motor Vehicles (Tests) (Amendment) Regulations 2002

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 3 makes amendments to regulation 20 (fees for examinations) of the 1981 Regulations. In regulation 20(1)(d)(i), (da)(i), (e)(i) and (ea)(i) the number “22” is substituted for “16”. Under those provisions a higher fee is payable if a vehicle is constructed or adapted to carry more than a certain specified number of passengers. By increasing that number from 16 to 22 these regulations ensure that a higher test fee becomes payable in the cases where the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000 (S.I. 2000/1970) apply.

Amendments are made to remove the higher fees for seat belt installation checks on Class VIA vehicles. Paragraph (4A) and references to that paragraph have been deleted and references to Class VIA vehicles are now included in paragraph (4).

In column 1 of the Table in regulation 20(4) the number “22” is substituted for “16” (the description relates to a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 22 passengers).

The fees specified in regulation 3(3) and (8) were last amended on 28th May 2001. The increased fees are payable from 1st April 2002 (with the percentage increase shown in brackets). The fees are for testing Classes VI and VIA vehicles (public service vehicles other than those of a type specified in regulation 5(3) of the 1981 Regulations and 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). The new fees are as follows.

Nature of Examination	Normal	Out of Hours	Designated Premises	Out of Hours at Designated Premises
	(£)	(£)	(£)	(£)
Examination under regulation 12 of the 1981 Regulations of a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 22 passengers.	52 (3%)	83 (3.1%)	60 (3.4%)	91 (3.4%)
Examination under regulation 12 in any other case.	37 (2.8%)	59 (2.6%)	45 (3.4%)	67 (3.1%)
Re-examination of a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 22 passengers, within 14 days of previous examination.	25 (2%)	41 (2.5%)	29.50 (1.7%)	45.50 (2.2%)
Re-examination of a vehicle constructed or adapted to carry more than 22 passengers, later than 14 days after previous examination.	52 (3%)	83 (3.1%)	60 (3.4%)	91 (3.4%)
Re-examination of any other vehicle within 14 days of previous examination	18 (2.9%)	30 (3.4%)	22.50 (2.3%)	34.50 (3%)
Re-examination of any other vehicle later than 14 days after previous examination.	37 (2.8%)	59 (2.6%)	45 (3.4%)	67 (3.1%)

In the case of the vehicles mentioned above, the fee payable on an appeal against the notice of refusal of a test certificate, is the same amount as the fee payable under regulation 20(1) of the 1981 Regulations. Those fees are increased accordingly.

A minor amendment is made to regulation 20(7)(c)(xvi) by the deletion of “and” between “speed limiter” and “plate”. This has the effect that a fee will now be payable for the re-test of a speed limiter on heavy goods vehicles.

Regulation 4 makes an amendment to paragraph 5 of Schedule 2 (prescribed statutory requirements for vehicles in Class VI) by the insertion of new items 37A and 37B after item 37. Item 37A relates to imposing requirements in regulation 100(1) of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 insofar as it relates to the question whether wheelchair restraining devices are fitted or, as the case may be, maintained so that no danger is likely to be caused. Item 37B relates to imposing equivalent requirements in regulation 100(1) of the Construction and Use Regulations in relation to features associated with wheelchairs, boarding devices (lifts, ramps), optical devices (to allow the driver to see the boarding area), signs and markings, communication devices, slip resistant surfaces, steps, floors and gangways, kneeling systems, lighting which is intended for wheelchair users to board or alight in safety.

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: [phone]). A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.