Important survey regarding slot fee increase

David
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Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 5, 2021 11:03:27 GMT 1

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Post by David on Aug 5, 2021 11:03:27 GMT 1

The following information is from DVSA.

PLEASE USE THE LINK AT THE BOTTOM TO PROVIDE YOUR VIEWS VIA THE SURVEY:

Give us your views: increasing DVSA fees

We're launching a consultation today (5 August) to get your views on increasing the cost of DVSA services.

So that we can continue to develop and invest in the services we provide, whilst still covering our costs, we are proposing to increase all our fees by a small amount (1.5%). Most of our fees haven’t increased since 2010, and we’ve worked hard to make savings through efficiency measures in the last few years.

How we’re improving the service we provide
Over the last few years we’ve worked on several improvements to our services, to make sure they better meet the needs our customers.

We updated the theory test hazard perception clips to make them more realistic to real life driving, we brought in iPad’s to mark driving tests and help candidates to get their licence back quicker.

We’ve continued to develop and improve the MOT service including the reminder service which almost 3.4 million people have signed up to so far.

We’ve also developed how we target non-compliant vehicle operators so that we reduce the burden on those who are compliant.

The small increase will allow us to continue to make essential improvements to our services. In the next year we’ll be focusing on improving the driving test booking service, the way the theory test service is delivered, how we carry out heavy vehicle enforcement and the MOT testing service.

Examples of fee increase proposals
Type of test Current fee Proposed fee for 2021 to 2022
Theory test (car and motorcycle) £23 £23.40
Car driving test (normal hours) £62 £62.90

Slot type Current fee Proposed fee for 2021 to 2022
MOT slot fee £2.05 £2.08

Test type Current fee Proposed fee for 2021 to 2022
HGV - 2 axles £91 £92.40
HGV - 3 axles £113 £114.70

The consultation opens today and will run for 4 weeks until 11:59 PM on 2 September.

Survey link: www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/6QB0A1/

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.
—Albert Einstein

mercedes VTS Council member Posts: 1,197 Class tested: 4 Last Online: Apr 19, 2024 15:35:13 GMT 1 Likes: 461	Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 5, 2021 11:26:44 GMT 1 peter and Darmech like this Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by mercedes on Aug 5, 2021 11:26:44 GMT 1 were is the price increase for mots if we are not getting a price increase on mots why take the survey they dont listen too us any way

David
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If the facts don't fit the theory, change the facts. Albert Einstein

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Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 5, 2021 11:35:07 GMT 1

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Post by David on Aug 5, 2021 11:35:07 GMT 1

Aug 5, 2021 11:26:44 GMT 1 mercedes said:

were is the price increase for mots if we are not getting a price increase on mots why take the survey they dont listen too us any way

Make it all clear in the survey mate. There is a section for comments

It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.
—Albert Einstein

rocket AE/Manager/Owner Posts: 3,429 Class tested: 4 Last Online: Apr 19, 2024 19:40:58 GMT 1 Likes: 1,043	Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 5, 2021 12:48:19 GMT 1 Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by rocket on Aug 5, 2021 12:48:19 GMT 1 they have to claw the money back from the lost revenue from the 6 month extension

mike617 AE/Manager/Owner owner ae tester Posts: 1,006 Class tested: 4 Last Online: Apr 19, 2024 17:12:20 GMT 1 Likes: 498	Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 5, 2021 13:39:46 GMT 1 mercedes likes this Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by mike617 on Aug 5, 2021 13:39:46 GMT 1 As the MOT is being used as a loss leader by some garages and national groups their will be no increase in fees

Dynamo
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Post by Dynamo on Aug 5, 2021 13:49:02 GMT 1

Fancy writing that asking for views and saying they have not had a fee increase since 2010!

What about the rest of us, no test fee increase and pay cuts not rises.

Tell them to get in the real world and live like the rest of us. Scraping the barrel.

You can't "unbreak" the broken,you can only break the unbroken to break the break of the unbroken, for me, you cannot unbreak me, for I am already broken,so you have no need to break the break because I am not unbroken.

Hooters VTS Council member Posts: 1,121 Class tested: 4, 5L, 7 Last Online: Apr 18, 2024 20:34:03 GMT 1 Likes: 782	Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 5, 2021 16:57:01 GMT 1 baz657 and peter like this Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by Hooters on Aug 5, 2021 16:57:01 GMT 1 Gentlemen, this needs some serious, considered thought.
	All advice is given in good faith and may reflect personal opinion only. It is always your own decision whether or not to follow this advice/opinion. The author accepts no responsibility for your actions and any consequences of these.

peter
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Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 5, 2021 18:40:43 GMT 1 Paul, Darmech, and 2 more like this

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Post by peter on Aug 5, 2021 18:40:43 GMT 1

I've done the survey and stated (in the comments section at the end) how can they increase the slot fee when the maximimum permitted test fee (which I charge and, lets face it, they want us to charge because you get marked down on a site assement if you discount) hasn't gone up for many years? Then consider that the move to connected equipment, even though not compulsory YET, has made smaller test stations effectively unsaleable and the whole MOT testing business model and hence the whole small independent sector is looking highly unattractive!
I wish the general public was aware that if this continues they are going to be left at the mercy of dealers, Halfords and maybe ATS.
But then they'll blame us for dropping out of the market!
And all this after we were told during lockdown that we were an essential service and could/should remain open.
Think of it for a moment and consider my own situation. 70 years old, still working 6, and mostly 7, days a week and like a lot of us regarding my business as a large part of my pension. Business? Effectively unsaleable. Hand tools (insured for £20k)? Unsaleable. Diagnostic equipment (insured for £15k)? Unsaleable. And people wonder why I don't retire!

dwain
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Post by dwain on Aug 5, 2021 23:35:51 GMT 1

Aug 5, 2021 18:40:43 GMT 1 peter said:

I've done the survey and stated (in the comments section at the end) how can they increase the slot fee when the maximimum permitted test fee (which I charge and, lets face it, they want us to charge because you get marked down on a site assement if you discount) hasn't gone up for many years? Then consider that the move to connected equipment, even though not compulsory YET, has made smaller test stations effectively unsaleable and the whole MOT testing business model and hence the whole small independent sector is looking highly unattractive!
I wish the general public was aware that if this continues they are going to be left at the mercy of dealers, Halfords and maybe ATS.
But then they'll blame us for dropping out of the market!
And all this after we were told during lockdown that we were an essential service and could/should remain open.
Think of it for a moment and consider my own situation. 70 years old, still working 6, and mostly 7, days a week and like a lot of us regarding my business as a large part of my pension. Business? Effectively unsaleable. Hand tools (insured for £20k)? Unsaleable. Diagnostic equipment (insured for £15k)? Unsaleable. And people wonder why I don't retire!

Here’s the thing, it is my opinion that they don’t want the one man bands and independents anymore. It spreads them too thin and makes enforcement too difficult.
Much easier to lay the responsibility at the feet of the big players and come down hard on individual testers.

peter
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Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 6, 2021 7:35:26 GMT 1

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Post by peter on Aug 6, 2021 7:35:26 GMT 1

Aug 5, 2021 23:35:51 GMT 1 dwain said:

Aug 5, 2021 18:40:43 GMT 1 peter said:

Here’s the thing, it is my opinion that they don’t want the one man bands and independents anymore. It spreads them too thin and makes enforcement too difficult.
Much easier to lay the responsibility at the feet of the big players and come down hard on individual testers.

I agree with that. In fact, and this might sound crazy but it makes sense to me, I can easily imagine a situation where the DVSA franchises the entire scheme to one big player (Halfords perhaps although I've heard rumours that even Tesco were interested at one time) and say "right you have sole rights to conduct tests and also you have to police the scheme. Any major problems we can fine you, heavily!".
Or perhaps they would decide to go the Northern Ireland route and take the entire test scheme in-house.
Either way they could make more money out of testing for less effort.

Dynamo
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Post by Dynamo on Aug 6, 2021 7:45:35 GMT 1

I've briefly read the email from DVSA and they are not really saying what some are saying above. Just because they want a fee increase due to the rise of costs etc does not mean they are going to target small mot stations. Any station following the rules will have nothing to worry about.

My gripe here is that everyone gets a rise each year due to living costs etc yet the mot scheme don't get one. I can only think that DVSA know that the AE's don't need a rise to the test fee because they are making great gains in profits by paying poor wages.

You can't "unbreak" the broken,you can only break the unbroken to break the break of the unbroken, for me, you cannot unbreak me, for I am already broken,so you have no need to break the break because I am not unbroken.

Dynamo
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Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 6, 2021 7:59:48 GMT 1

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Post by Dynamo on Aug 6, 2021 7:59:48 GMT 1

Aug 6, 2021 7:35:26 GMT 1 peter said:

Aug 5, 2021 23:35:51 GMT 1 dwain said:

Here’s the thing, it is my opinion that they don’t want the one man bands and independents anymore. It spreads them too thin and makes enforcement too difficult.
Much easier to lay the responsibility at the feet of the big players and come down hard on individual testers.

I agree with that. In fact, and this might sound crazy but it makes sense to me, I can easily imagine a situation where the DVSA franchises the entire scheme to one big player (Halfords perhaps although I've heard rumours that even Tesco were interested at one time) and say "right you have sole rights to conduct tests and also you have to police the scheme. Any major problems we can fine you, heavily!".
Or perhaps they would decide to go the Northern Ireland route and take the entire test scheme in-house.
Either way they could make more money out of testing for less effort.

No sorry peter I must disagree. Testers and AE's have been there before about market giants like Tesco. I remember a VOSA trainer back in the day telling us that one reason the test fee is kept low is to stop the likes of tesco moving into the market and telling people yes go do your shopping the mot will be ready when you collect at the check-out.

The scheme is in a state of disrepair now with some station owners. Just yesterday I was asked to put a bulb in a headlamp of a Nissan. The woman was complaining her headlamp was broken, and yes it physically was. The problem was the headlamp was significantly insecure and should have failed the test, but it only failed on beam pattern. A mechanic polished the headlamp lens. This I know because he asked me where was the T cut. I asked do you want to borrow my buffer and the guy said no, he continued, don't use your equipment on his customers cars let him buy his own. You see AE's make their own rules up as they go along. Had the AE who tested the car done the job even half correct would have advised the headlamp no?

So for me at least in my thirty years of understanding with the mot business owners, until DVSA sort them out, standards will never be correct and wages will also be kept low.

You can't "unbreak" the broken,you can only break the unbroken to break the break of the unbroken, for me, you cannot unbreak me, for I am already broken,so you have no need to break the break because I am not unbroken.

baz657
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Post by baz657 on Aug 6, 2021 9:08:05 GMT 1

There are several business owners that have been offended by your comments. Not all AE's and business owners are the same as yours Dynamo . Please remember that.

Your personal experiences and gripes are something we've all heard about for years - you take every opportunity to make a point, often hijacking topics. Either put up and shut up or take the advice several have given you and move on.

Last Edit: Aug 6, 2021 9:08:31 GMT 1 by baz657 -

The all new Hillside Garage website now open

peter Retired Posts: 1,685 Class tested: 4 Last Online: Apr 17, 2024 12:47:06 GMT 1 Likes: 1,144	Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 6, 2021 9:10:52 GMT 1 Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by peter on Aug 6, 2021 9:10:52 GMT 1 Sorry Dynamo but I can't make any sense of your last post. I'm not bothering to quote it but how is buffing the headlight lens on a Nissan even remotely relevant to what we're talking about here?

Dynamo
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Post by Dynamo on Aug 6, 2021 14:23:58 GMT 1

Emotions can run high with this trade fairly quick when one see's what I see on a weekly basis. And that stress runs high when I think of all the time, effort and money, training, tools, equipment etc etc in my life that I've invested only to end up in a useless low paid under rated job. It's amplified even more when customers walk through the door and undermine the standards we're supposed to apply that some seem to flout deliberately. I'm not out to upset anyone I just feel the trade is not what it should be. Sorry if I've upset anyone.

You can't "unbreak" the broken,you can only break the unbroken to break the break of the unbroken, for me, you cannot unbreak me, for I am already broken,so you have no need to break the break because I am not unbroken.

mercedes
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Post by mercedes on Aug 6, 2021 14:58:23 GMT 1

can you scan my car to tell what is wrong with it but i dont want to pay for it our can you let me have a shot of your press to do a wheel bearing our a shoot of my spring compresser i have had them all in i tell them the same every time i have too pay for these machines so i want pay for you too use them

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Post by peter on Aug 6, 2021 18:19:55 GMT 1

As we're going off topic my one (which still makes my blood boil when I think about it!) was our little local shop. I did some work on their car and the bill was over £400, they pleaded poverty and as they're local and I knew them we let them pay over 6 months. That was about a year ago but a few weeks back my wife went in there for an emergency pint of milk (I should add she goes there most days although I admit generally for smaller items) and she'd forgotten her purse. Their response "well you'd better go back and get it then"! She left the milk on the counter and just came home and we both drank our coffee black that day!
And for Dynamo you didn't upset me I just couldn't see where your post fitted in. But now I've done one which doesn't either!

Last Edit: Aug 6, 2021 18:20:54 GMT 1 by peter -

Paul
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Post by Paul on Aug 7, 2021 14:40:58 GMT 1

Aug 5, 2021 18:40:43 GMT 1 peter said:

I've done the survey and stated (in the comments section at the end) how can they increase the slot fee when the maximimum permitted test fee (which I charge and, lets face it, they want us to charge because you get marked down on a site assement if you discount) hasn't gone up for many years? Then consider that the move to connected equipment, even though not compulsory YET, has made smaller test stations effectively unsaleable and the whole MOT testing business model and hence the whole small independent sector is looking highly unattractive!
I wish the general public was aware that if this continues they are going to be left at the mercy of dealers, Halfords and maybe ATS.
But then they'll blame us for dropping out of the market!
And all this after we were told during lockdown that we were an essential service and could/should remain open.
Think of it for a moment and consider my own situation. 70 years old, still working 6, and mostly 7, days a week and like a lot of us regarding my business as a large part of my pension. Business? Effectively unsaleable. Hand tools (insured for £20k)? Unsaleable. Diagnostic equipment (insured for £15k)? Unsaleable. And people wonder why I don't retire!

Its spiraling in the wrong direction in 2030 only electric cars are to be sold, were all going to be connected and fixing these new motors HELLO.. when cats came to be the carburetor centres with rolling roads etc ended up closing & we started failing motors on cat tests without any facility from gov.uk on how to actually price up the required repairs to get em through said test as in customer is told in advance how much the total cost will be, prior to any work being done, to get repaired. Even today how do you price up a petrol/diesel motor when it fails a gas/smoke test. Massachusetts in the US has legislation in place to help car owners pass their annual emission test & the garages involved are licensed to do it.
Gov uk dvsa need to be forward thinking regarding us folk.. www.motester.co.uk/mot-slot-fee-increase/

Unlike the DVSA the MOT Testing businesses are unable to unilaterally declare an increase in the current MOT fee of £54.85, which has remained unchanged since April 2010 – it can only be increased by the Department for Transport and informed to Testing Stations by DVSA.

£54.85 to test an electric motor.. Are we going to have following on from 'Diesels Tested', 'Catalyst Tested' to a 'Electric Tested' £70 test fee? if not it dont add up?

castrolrob MOT tester Posts: 4,372 Class tested: 4, 7 Last Online: Apr 1, 2024 14:07:39 GMT 1 Likes: 2,763	Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 8, 2021 12:13:56 GMT 1 Hooters and Paul like this Back to Top Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Back to Top Post by castrolrob on Aug 8, 2021 12:13:56 GMT 1 the comments box at the end of the survey being restricted to 250 words was a bummer,had to prune most of my comments-maybe that was the idea

Paul
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Important survey regarding slot fee increase Aug 9, 2021 21:15:37 GMT 1 peter likes this

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Post by Paul on Aug 9, 2021 21:15:37 GMT 1

Aug 8, 2021 12:13:56 GMT 1 castrolrob said:

the comments box at the end of the survey being restricted to 250 words was a bummer,had to prune most of my comments-maybe that was the idea

Increase slot fee when maximum permitted test fee, face it you want us to charge else we get marked down on site assessment for discounting, hasn't gone up for years. The move to connected equipment, not compulsory YET, has made smaller test stations effectively unsaleable the whole MOT testing business model and whole small independent sector is looking highly unattractive!. Blame us for dropping out the market!

Consider our situation, Still working 6, mostly 7 day week & like a lot regarding our business it’s a large part of our pension. Business? Effectively unsaleable. Hand tools (insured for £20k)? Diagnostic equipment (insured for £15k)? All Unsaleable People wonder why we don't retire!

2030 only electric cars to be sold, were connected fixing these motors HELLO.. when cats came carburettor centres with rolling roads etc ended up closing & we started failing motors on cat tests without a facility from gov.uk on how to actually price up the required repairs to get them through a test. Today how do you price up a petrol/diesel motor when it fails on gas/smoke? Massachusetts in US has legislation in place to help car owners pass their annual emission test the garages involved are licensed to do it.

www.motester.co.uk/mot-slot-fee-increase/
The MOT fee of £54.85 has remained unchanged since April 2010 – it can only be increased by the Department for Transport and informed to Testing Stations by DVSA.

'Diesels Tested', 'Catalyst Tested' to a 'Electric Tested' £70 test fee? if not it don’t add up DVSA.

above is 250 words

Last Edit: Aug 9, 2021 21:18:44 GMT 1 by Paul: 250 words -

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