Citation and commencement

1. These Regulations may be cited as the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) (Amendment) Regulations 2008 and shall come into force on 13th July 2008.

Preliminary

2. The Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988(3) shall be amended as follows.

Amendment to regulation 3 (interpretation)

3. In regulation 3, in the definition of "Goods Vehicle Centre" for "Welcombe House, 91-92 The Strand, Swansea, SA1 2DH" substitute "such office of the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency as the Secretary of State may direct".

Amendments to regulation 12 (manner of making application for first examinations or periodic tests, and fees)

4. In regulation 12(3), for the Table substitute–

Amendments to regulation 16 (fees for re-tests)

5. In regulation 16(1), for the Table substitute–

Further amendments relating to fees

6. In the regulations specified in column (1) of the following Table, for each amount specified in column 2 substitute the amount specified in column (3).

EXPLANATORY NOTE

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations further amend the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988 ("the 1988 Regulations"). Regulations 3, 4, and 5 amend the fees prescribed by the 1988 Regulations.

Regulation 3 amends the definition of Goods Vehicle Centre so that it shall be at such office as the Secretary of State may direct. This change is necessary in order to accommodate the relocation of the office. Details of the address will be publicised in all places where information about goods vehicle services is provided.

Regulation 4 changes the fee payable on an application for a first examination or periodical test as shown in Table 1 below (with the percentage increase shown in brackets).

Where the appointment for such an examination or test is, at the applicant´s request, "out of hours", the supplement to the normal fee is increased by 2.9% from £34 to £35 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 4.8% from £21 to £22 in the case of a trailer (regulation 12(4) of the 1988 Regulations). Where the vehicle testing station appointed for such an examination or test is, at the applicant´s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is "out of hours", further supplement is increased by 8.3% from £12 to £13 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 16.7% from £6 to £7 in the case of a trailer (regulation 12(4A) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6).

Regulation 5 changes the fee payable on an application for a re-test or further re-test carried out within 14 days after the vehicle was submitted for its first examination, periodic test or previous re-test (regulation 16(1) and (3) of the 1988 Regulations). The new fees are shown in Table 2 below (with the percentage increase shown in brackets).

Where the appointment for a re-test or further re-test within 14 days is, at the applicant´s request "out of hours", the supplement to the normal fee is increased by 5.9% from £17 to £18 in the case of a motor vehicle (regulation 16(4) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6). There is no change in the case of a trailer, which remains at £12. Where the vehicle testing station appointed for such a re-test or further re-test is, at the applicant´s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is "out of hours", further supplement is increased by 14.3% from £7 to £8 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 33.3% from £3 to £4 in the case of a trailer (regulation 16(4A) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6).

Where the appointment for a re-test or further re-test not within 14 days is, at the applicant´s request, "out of hours", the supplement to the normal fee is increased by 2.9% from £34 to £35 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 4.8% from £21 to £22 in the case of a trailer (regulation 16(5) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6). Where the vehicle testing appointed for such a re-test or further re-test is, at the applicant´s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is "out of hours", further supplement is increased by 8.3% from £12 to £13 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 16.7% from £6 to £7 in the case of a trailer (regulation 16(5A) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6). Where a retest is carried out in the circumstances specified in regulation 16(6) of the 1988 Regulations the fee is increased by 9.1% from £11 to £12 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 20% from £5 to £6 in the case of a trailer (regulation 6).

The fee payable on an appeal in respect of a determination made on a first examination, or on a consequent retest of a vehicle is increased by 3.8% from £26 to £27 (regulation 25(4) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6).

The fee payable on a request for an amendment to a plating certificate following a notifiable alteration or for a re-examination where a particular contained in a plating certificate is or may be no longer applicable is increased by 4.3% from £23 to £24 (regulation 34(1) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6). Where an appointment for a re-examination following a notifiable alteration or with a view to amendment of a plating certificate is, at the applicant´s request, "out of hours", the supplement remains unchanged at £12 (regulation 34(2) of the 1988 Regulations). Where the vehicle testing station appointed for such a re-examination is, at the applicant´s request, not one provided by the Secretary of State, the supplement or, in a case which is "out of hours, further supplement is increased by 14.3% from £7 to £8 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 33.3% from £3 to £4 in the case of a trailer (regulation 34(2A) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6).

The fee payable for the alteration of the plated weights (or any of the plated weights) for a vehicle without an examination is increased by 4.3% from £23 to £24 (regulation 37B(2) of the 1988 Regulations) (regulation 6). The fee payable for replacements of Ministry plates, plating certificates, goods vehicle test certificates or Ministry test date discs remains unchanged at £12.

An impact assessment of the effect that this instrument will have on the costs of business and the voluntary sector is available from the VOSA Corporate Office, Berkeley House, Croydon Street, Bristol BS5 0DA (telephone: 0117 954 3200). A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament. The impact assessment is annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on the OPSI website www.opsi.gov.uk.