Driving Standards Agency announces changes to test fees

The Driving Standards Agency has announced the results of last autumn's consultation on its proposed driving test fee structure.

Theory tests for learner car drivers and motorcycle riders booked on or after 30 March will be £31 while practical tests for car drivers will cost £62 from that date. This is a reduction of £1.50 on the proposed fee.

DSA Chief Executive, Rosemary Thew, thanked the public for participating in the public consultation, and said: "We are doing everything we can to ensure that fees remain as low as possible for our customers - particularly during the current economic climate.

"Despite this, increases are necessary to cover inflation, increases in general running costs and development work.

"The Agency is largely self-funding. We receive only a small amount from general taxation and have to recover most of our costs through test fees.

"We are confident that these increases will enable us to maintain our high standards and provide a first class service to all our customers."

Learndrive Comment:

We are saddened by the increase in test fees and consider the comments made by Rosemary Shaw to be a little insulting - by stating "fees remain low". Test fees have risen constantly over inflation rates in the last twenty years - and at a time of 0% inflation and heading into a period of deflation, an increase of almost 10% on test fees is too much. Unfortunately the DSA have the monopoly in this instance.

Learner driver 'was worst ever'

A driving examiner is suing for damages after claiming he was hurt by the worst learner driver he has ever seen.

Andrew Carmichael alleges he suffered a whiplash injury after an exam candidate braked harshly, forcing another car to take evasive action.

Mr Carmichael said he recorded 14 faults with the driving of the woman taking the exam, claiming five were serious and one dangerous.

Candidate Lisa Connolly failed the test in December 2006.

Mr Carmichael, 35, of Mid Calder in West Lothian, has raised an action at the Court of Session in Edinburgh against NIG Insurance, which insured the driving instructor's car used by Miss Connolly for the test.

He is seeking £15,000, basing his claim on the fault of the exam candidate over her driving of the car. The action is being contested.

Full details : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/7895353.stm

A proposed test price increase of £7.00 (12.4%)

The DSA propose that the cost of the tests from 1st April 2009 rise a staggering 12.4%. This comes on top of last years increase of 16.5% - of which at Learndrive we feel is ludicrous. With a government pay increase for civil servants capped at 2% we cannot see how the further rise can be justified.

The DSA have compiled a report on this matter suggesting the costs of the DSA are rising higher then the rise in test fees, which again we find ridiculous as the cost of the DSA should only be rising with increasing costs. Call centre costs are reduced as more and more transactions are web based, so less call centre staff and costs. Test centre costs are being clawed back by the DSA selling off expensive land and rebuilding on lower cost land. The DSA suggests that the increase is to continue with customer service improvements. Since the last 16.5% increase customer service levels have dropped.

However as the DSA and government have a monopoly on the amount it can charge for tests we as a school and you as paying customer have no option but to pay the extra amount. We would suggest reading the consultation form and filling the reply form with your comments.

The links for both pdf documents can be found on: http://www.dsa.gov.uk/Category.asp?cat=592

Our only recommendation is to get your test booked and completed before the injustifuable price increases - and please please please book a course suitable for your needs as not to waste a test fee if you do not reach the required standard and let the DSA retain your fee.

An unpressedented amount of feedback

We must be doing something right!

Over the last two weeks we have had the most amount of positive feedback on pupils coming on our courses. A thank you to the pupils, to all of our dedicated instructors and the hotel for ensuring the sucess of Learndrive.

Well done on everyone passing!!

Modernising Arrangements For Driving Tests

The Driving Standards Agency today confirmed the driving test fee structure that was proposed last summer.

Theory tests for car drivers and motorcycle riders from 1 April will be £30 while practical tests for car drivers will be £56.50 from that date.

When the new, more demanding, practical motorcycle test is introduced on 29 September, the fee for that test will be £80. A new off-road part is being introduced to the test before riders will be allowed to progress to the on-road element, which requires a new network of test centres to be constructed.

Chief Executive Rosemary Thew said:

"The Driving Standards Agency has to cover its costs in providing driving and riding tests to learners throughout the country. We are already planning to make efficiency savings of £4.8m this year and a further £6.0m in 2008/9, but to make sure we continue to offer an excellent service the fees we charge must match our costs."

The new fee structure was confirmed as the DSA published its response to the Improved Services for Customers and General Fee Increases for 2008 consultation.

The Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 2005 (Amendment) (No 2) states what identification an individual is required by Law to take for their driving test. From 1 November 2005 regulation 38(6) stated every test candidate would have to present either both parts of a current-style two-part photocard licence (photocard and paper counterpart) or an old-style paper licence with a valid passport . No other forms of identification would be accepted.

For some time candidates have been allowed to complete a declaration if they have arrived for test without the required licence counterpart. However we are now required to tighten up on our ID requirements and so as from Monday 1 October 2007 we will cease to use the declaration.

Candidates must present either the new style photocard licence (both the photocard and the paper counterpart) or an old style paper licence with a valid passport.

Customers who arrive without these documents will not be allowed to take the test and so will forfeit their test fee.

Please ensure that you have the correct documentation. Failure will mean that you may not get to sit the test. You will still have to pay and complete your course in full.