L. Accounts and fees
Fees for tests, retests, duplicate certificates, replacement certificates, VAT, credit card payments, test slots, paying for MOTs with an account.
Where statutory fees for testing are reviewed authorised examiners (AEs) will be formally advised of any changes.
The fees are the maximum that may be charged. AEs are permitted to charge less than the statutory fee for a test, a retest or for a duplicate test certificate. It is stressed that, irrespective of the fee charged, the required examination must be carried out in full and in accordance with the department鈥檚 requirements. Failure to do so may result in the cessation of the AEs authorisation and testers approval to test.
Current statutory maximum test fees are notified periodically via a special notice and the MOT test fees and appeals poster which must be publicly displayed on, or adjacent to, the MOT notice board from the date specified in the special notice.
There are two occasions where an AE/vehicle testing station (VTS) must not charge a retest fee.
A
An AE or VTS must not charge a retest fee if the vehicle:
- stays at the VTS at which the examination took place so that defects on testable items can be repaired
- is retested before the end of the 10th working day following the day of the initial test
The vehicle must remain at the VTS and must not leave at any time.
B
An AE or VTS must also not charge a retest fee if the vehicle:
- is retested at the same VTS where the vehicle failed the test before the end of the next working day on which testing is carried out
- has only failed for one or more of the items listed below
All classes
- access panels
- battery
- bonnet
- boot lid
- brake pedal anti-slip
- doors (including hinges, catches and pillars)
- dropsides
- electrical wiring
- fuel filler cap
- horn
- lamps (excluding headlamp aim)
- headlamp cleaning or levelling devices (not requiring a headlamp aim check)
- loading door
- main beam 鈥榯ell-tale鈥�
- mirrors
- rear reflectors
- registration plates
- seat belts (but not anchorages)
- seat belt load limiter
- seat belt pre-tensioner
- seats
- sharp edges or projections
- steering wheel
- tailboard
- tailgate
- towbars (excluding body around anchorage points)
- trailer electrical sockets
- tyre pressure monitoring system
- vehicle identification number (VIN)
- windscreen and glass
- windscreen wipers/washers
All classes (except class 1 and 2)
- tyres
- wheels
Class 5 only
- break glass hammer
- door open warning device
- emergency exits and signs
- entrance door remote control
- entrance and exit steps
- stairs
The VTS must not have undergone a change in ownership during this period. If the VTS has undergone a change of ownership none of the above applies and a full test must be carried out for which a full fee may be charged.
Where the vehicle fails the test and the vehicle is repaired and subsequently re-examined using the Pass after Rectification at Station (PRS) facility, see Section B5. Testing responsibilities, no further test fee can be charged for the re-examination.
Partial retests
If the vehicle is removed from the VTS for repair and returned to the same VTS (provided the test station does not change ownership) and is retested before the end of the 10th working day following the day of the initial test, then only a partial retest is needed and a retest fee of up to half the statutory maximum test fee may be charged.
Class 4A and 5A retests
Where, on initial test, a vehicle in Class 4A or 5A passes on all aspects of seat belt installation but fails in other areas that are part of the Class 4 or 5 test respectively, they may be retested as a Class 4 or 5. This must be done at the same VTS where the vehicle was originally failed as a Class 4A or 5A.
The total number of belts fitted at the time of retest must be no more than were fitted at the original test. The tester who conducted the original test must endorse the original VT30 or enter a non-component advisory to the effect that the seat belt installation check standards have been met and showing the number of belts installed. That tester (and the AE) will be accountable for the standards applied in the installation check.
The fee charged for such a retest will depend on the failure items and circumstances involved. If the conditions set out in retest fees apply, then no fee may be charged.
If the vehicle is returned before the end of 10 working days then half the statutory maximum fee may be charged, otherwise the fee charged may be up to the statutory maximum permitted for Class 4 or 5 as appropriate to the number of seats.
Retest qualification period
Vehicles which remain at the VTS for repair and re-examination no longer qualify indefinitely for a partial free retest. These vehicles will only qualify if that re-examination is carried out before the end of 10 working days following the day of the initial test. Vehicles not re-examined within the above timescale must undergo a full test and the statutory maximum test fee for the class of vehicle being tested may be charged.
Only one partial re-examination is permissible per full examination.
The VTS must not have undergone a change of ownership during this period.
The maximum fee for any duplicate test certificate is 拢10. A duplicate certificate is that issued in accordance with Section H4. Forms when an original has been lost or damaged.
No fee may be charged for the issue of a replacement test certificate (for example a test certificate issued because an error was made on the original test certificate). A replacement test certificate is one issued in accordance with Section H4. Forms when a tester is satisfied that some of the information entered on the original certificate is wrong.
No fee may be charged for 鈥榚xchange鈥� documents. See Section H4. Forms.
Test fees themselves are not currently subject to VAT, although where a vehicle presenter re-charges their client an amount greater than the test fee actually charged, VAT may be chargeable on some or all of that re-charge. Any enquiries on this subject should be directed to the local VAT office.
Where an AE accepts payment for an MOT by credit or debit card, they must not add an additional amount to the test fee to cover any administration fee if it results in the cost exceeding the maximum test fee chargeable.
The customer should not be expected to cover any additional costs over and above the maximum charge for the MOT.
DVSA may consider action against any AE found to be charging a fee higher than the maximum.
If the AE is discounting the fee and the extra charge does not cause a payment in excess of the maximum fee this is acceptable.
The fee payable to DVSA for an appeal against the decision to fail an MOT test is the maximum fee for the appropriate vehicle class. This fee may be returned, in part or fully, if DVSA agrees that the appeal was justified.
AEs are required to pay a charge to DVSA for each test pass recorded on the MOT testing service. Test slots must be purchased in advance. The registration of a new test or retest at a VTS will not be permitted if the AE does not have at least one test slot available.
Test slots used by DVSA during the course of an appeal will not be deducted from the AE account.
Every AE has a slot account that will hold all the test slots purchased by the AE.
VTSs controlled by the AE take from this 鈥榩ool鈥� of slots. An AE may monitor their account usage at any time via the MOT testing service.
Slots can be purchased by any person in the AE holding the role of authorised examiner designated manager (AEDM) or authorised examiner delegate (AED).
Payments and any credits due to an AE will be processed through DVSAs finance department.
AEs experiencing problems buying slots or with the slot account updating should contact the MOT testing service desk.
AEs should be aware that payments that are refused by their banks or building societies will have their payment reversed from the system by taking away the amount of unpaid slots purchased. These unsatisfactory actions may affect the repute of an AE.
Methods of paying for slots
An AE can pay for slots using the following preferred methods:
-
debit and credit cards
-
direct debit
AE鈥檚 may also pay by cheque or postal order; a form will have to be completed which is available online. Whichever method is used, AEs should monitor their slot balance regularly.
AEs that choose the direct debit method to pay for slots should be aware that it can take up to 5 working days for your slot account to be updated.
AEs are reminded that should their authorisation cease completely, they will need to cancel the direct debit mandate. This can be done on the MOT testing service or directly with their bank.
Account refunds
A refund may be available for unused slots if the AE has ceased to be approved or to test.
AE no longer approved
If the AE has ceased, AEs must fill in the online form to聽tell DVSA that an MOT centre is closing. MOT Administration will progress the refund along with other actions relating to garage or AE closure. The refund will be completed by DVSA finance in Swansea.
Reduce AE slot account balance
Exceptionally, an AE may request a refund to reduce the slot balance. The AE 尘耻蝉迟听fill in a slot refund request form.
It will take approximately 14 days from the date the refund request is processed to when the cheque is generated and sent to the AE.