VOSA is planning to increase its annual commercial vehicle test and inspection fees by 9%, netting the government agency an extra £9.6m in revenue. The proposal has been met with fierce opposition from the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association (BVRLA), which calls the revised fee structure "wholly unfair" and "untimely".
John Lewis, BVRLA chief executive, says: "This will unfairly
penalise our members, especially as they do not require an O-licence to carry out their normal business of renting commercial vehicles."
VOSA claims the 9% rise in the fee represents the "increased cost of service provision", but the BVRLA is not convinced: "VOSA has failed to balance its books and it wants its customers to bail it out by paying these extra charges." The merger of test fees will see the rental and leasing industry's annual bill rise from £3.2m this year to £7m in 2010.
Kevin Rooney, customer director at VOSA, responds: "These fee changes mark the first stage of a radical change in the way testing is delivered. The net effect of changes to test and O-licence fees for a 44-tonne combination paid during 2009-10 is an increase of between £14 and £22."
Rooney also says there will be a 50% reduction in supplements charged by VOSA for operators that test their vehicles at third-party premises, meaning the increase would be between £5 and £13.
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