These Regulations further amend the Goods Vehicles (Plating and Testing) Regulations 1988 (“the 1988 Regulations”).

Regulation 3 makes extensive amendments relating to fees.

The fee payable on an application for a first examination or periodical test undergoes the changes shown in the Table below (with the percentage increase shown in brackets). However, 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 2.3% from £21.50 to £22 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 3.7% from £13.50 to £14 in the case of a trailer.

The fee for a re-test or further re-test within 14 days after the first examination or earlier re-test is increased by 5.1% from £19.50 to £20.50 in the case of a motor vehicle and by 4.8% from £10.50 to £11 in the case of a trailer. However, where the appointment for such a re-test is, at the applicant’s request “out of hours”, the supplement to the normal fee is increased by 4.8% from £10.50 to £11 in the case of a motor vehicle. There is no change in the case of a fee for a trailer, which remains at £7.

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following a notifiable alteration or for a re-examination where a particular in the certificate is or may be no longer applicable is increased by 3.4% from £14.50 to £15. However 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 to the normal fee is increased by 5.9% from £8.50 to £9. 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 the case which is “out of hours”, further supplement, is increased by 12.5% from £4 to £4.50 in the case of a motor vehicle. In the case of a trailer the fee remains unchanged at £2.

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 3.4% from £14.50 to £15.

Where an applicant for an examination cannot or does not propose to proceed with the examination and gives the Secretary of State notice under regulation 39(3)(b)(ii) that no other examination of the same kind is required the fee payable is increased by 25% from £2 to £2.50.

The fee payable on request for a replacement plate and certificate is increased by 4.8% from £10.50 to £11.

Regulation 4 amends regulation 16(6)(c)(i) by deleting the reference to item 8. This has the effect that a fee will now be payable for the re-test of a speed limiter.

Regulation 5 amends Schedule 2 (Classes of vehicle to which the Regulations do not apply) by adding to paragraph 25 motor 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.

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 2467). A copy has been placed in the library of each House of Parliament.