DVSA Urges Garages to Become Vehicle Approval Test Centres
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is encouraging garages, workshops and other suitably equipped businesses to become Vehicle Examination Facilities as it develops a new nationwide network for vehicle approval testing.
The move could create opportunities for businesses with suitable premises and testing equipment to host Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) and Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval (MSVA) tests at their own sites.
Rather than the garage carrying out the approval test itself, DVSA examiners visit the approved private facility and conduct the examination.
For garages with suitable testing lanes and equipment, the new Vehicle Examination Facility (VEF) model could provide another use for existing workshop capacity while helping vehicle builders, converters, importers and other businesses access approval testing closer to home.
DVSA building a new network of private testing facilities
DVSA has been developing its Vehicle Examination Facility network as part of a wider transformation of its vehicle approval services.
Historically, the vast majority of vehicle approval tests have been carried out at DVSA’s own Goods Vehicle Testing Stations. This can require customers to travel considerable distances, adding time, mileage and cost to the approval process.
The VEF model is intended to bring approval testing closer to where vehicles are built, imported or modified.
It works in a similar way to the established Authorised Testing Facility model used for heavy vehicle annual testing: the private operator provides the approved premises and equipment, while DVSA supplies the examiner.
Matthew Williscroft, DVSA’s head of approvals transformation initiative, said following the approval of the first VEF that the agency was moving IVA and MSVA testing closer to where vehicles are built or modified.
DVSA expects further interest from businesses wanting to establish VEFs and is encouraging potential operators to make contact.
What is a Vehicle Examination Facility?
A Vehicle Examination Facility, or VEF, is a privately operated site approved by DVSA to host vehicle approval tests.
Depending on its approval, a VEF can accommodate Individual Vehicle Approval and Motorcycle Single Vehicle Approval testing.
These approval schemes are used for vehicles including those that have been:
- built or rebuilt;
- radically altered;
- reconstructed from a classic vehicle;
- imported;
- modified.
VEFs can potentially be approved for a broad range of vehicles, including motorcycles, passenger cars, buses and coaches, light commercial vehicles, HGVs and trailers.
Importantly, becoming a VEF does not mean the garage’s own technicians become DVSA vehicle approval examiners.
The business provides the compliant facility and equipment. DVSA provides the examiner who carries out the approval test.
Garages can test their own vehicles or accommodate other customers
Once approved, a vehicle approval test centre can be used for the operator’s own vehicles and can also accommodate vehicles belonging to other customers.
DVSA has previously described VEF sites as being able to operate on an own-account basis, an open-access basis for third-party vehicles, or a combination of the two.
That could make the scheme particularly interesting to businesses already involved in vehicle conversions, specialist vehicles, imports, fleet modifications, kit cars or other work where IVA testing is regularly required.
It could also make an appropriately equipped independent facility more useful to other businesses in its region.
What does a garage need to become a VEF?
Becoming a Vehicle Examination Facility requires considerably more than simply having an existing MOT bay.
DVSA says applicants will need to demonstrate that they have suitable premises, approved testing equipment and an appropriate health and safety policy.
Among the requirements, premises must be weatherproof, have appropriate planning permission and insurance, provide suitable access and include office and communication facilities that DVSA staff can use.
A stable internet connection is also required.
The testing area must have a flat and level floor, adequate space for the categories of vehicle being tested, appropriate ventilation and sufficient clearance around the test lane and fixed equipment.
Sites must also have a pit, hoist or lift.
Depending on the vehicle categories being tested, additional equipment could include a computer-controlled roller brake tester, exhaust gas analyser, diesel smoke meter, headlamp tester and turn plates.
Some sites may also need an area in which vehicle manoeuvres can be carried out.
Existing garages therefore need to assess their facilities carefully rather than assuming that an MOT bay will automatically meet VEF requirements.
Could becoming a VEF generate additional garage income?
Potentially, although the payment system is important to understand.
DVSA says a VEF cannot charge a customer an additional fee simply for having their vehicle tested at the site.
Instead, DVSA makes what it calls a “lane service payment” to the approved centre for each vehicle tested.
The payment is currently 20% of the relevant vehicle approval application or retest fee, plus VAT where the VEF is VAT registered.
Operators also need to consider the costs of establishing and running the facility.
These can include investment in the building, test lane and testing equipment, as well as ongoing maintenance, staffing and other operating costs.
DVSA does not pay VEF operators an annual fee.
There are also minimum testing-event costs. Current DVSA guidance lists testing-event fees starting at £280 for four hours and increasing according to the number of hours booked.
The amount a VEF actually needs to contribute depends on the application fees generated by the vehicles being tested during that event. Where those application fees are lower than the testing-event fee, the difference is deducted from the site’s pre-funded account.
This means garages considering VEF status will need to look carefully at likely demand and test-lane utilisation before deciding whether the numbers stack up.
Sites will remain subject to DVSA oversight
Approval is not a one-off exercise.
DVSA says it can inspect a Vehicle Examination Facility and will inspect each site at least once a year to make sure safety standards and site requirements continue to be met.
There are also rules intended to prevent approved facilities from remaining unused indefinitely.
A site that does not book a testing session for six months will be treated as dormant and will no longer be able to book testing sessions until the appropriate process has been followed.
If it remains dormant for 12 months, DVSA can remove its approval, meaning the operator would need to go through the application process again if it wanted to reopen.
Why is DVSA changing vehicle approval testing?
The new network forms part of a broader change in the way DVSA delivers vehicle approval services.
DVSA has said that customers can currently face lengthy journeys to access approval testing. Moving more testing into approved third-party facilities should reduce unnecessary travel while providing customers with more choice over where their vehicles are examined.
The agency has been working with pilot sites to refine the authorisation process and the standards required of facilities.
DVSA has also said that approved sites can display official branding and potentially generate income from underused test lanes.
The direction of travel is similar to the model already familiar to the heavy vehicle sector, where privately operated Authorised Testing Facilities provide the premises and equipment while DVSA examiners carry out statutory tests.
DVSA’s business plan has also confirmed its intention to create a network of vehicle approval facilities using premises that may already be operated by manufacturers, converters or importers.
What does this mean for MOT garages?
For the average MOT station, becoming a VEF will not necessarily be a straightforward additional service.
IVA and MSVA are separate from the MOT scheme, and the facility, equipment and operational requirements need to be considered independently.
However, the development could be significant for larger MOT centres, specialist workshops and businesses that already have suitable test lanes or regularly deal with imported, converted or substantially modified vehicles.
For the right operation, VEF status could provide a way of making better use of existing facilities while attracting specialist vehicle customers.
It could also provide an opportunity for garages in areas where businesses currently have to travel significant distances for vehicle approval testing.
The commercial case will depend heavily on local demand, the suitability of existing premises and equipment, and how regularly the business can accommodate approval testing events.
Can garages apply to become a VEF now?
There is an important distinction for businesses interested in joining the scheme.
At the time of writing, GOV.UK’s public guidance states that businesses cannot currently apply through the public application service to set up a vehicle approval test centre.
Businesses can sign up for GOV.UK email alerts to be notified when applications become available.
However, DVSA has also been actively encouraging interested businesses to make early contact as it builds the network.
Its earlier guidance invited businesses interested in VEF status to contact the approvals transformation team.
The rollout follows pilot work with selected sites and is being developed progressively.
Garages interested in the opportunity should therefore study the technical requirements carefully before committing to investment and follow the latest DVSA guidance as the application process develops.
A potentially significant change to vehicle testing
The expansion of Vehicle Examination Facilities represents another step towards using privately operated premises to deliver statutory vehicle testing services.
For vehicle owners, builders and modifiers, the main benefit should be greater access to IVA and MSVA testing without travelling as far to a DVSA facility.
For garages and workshops, the opportunity is more specialised.
Businesses with the right premises, equipment and customer base could gain an additional use for their test facilities and position themselves as a regional destination for vehicle approval testing.
But VEF status comes with specific technical, financial and compliance requirements, so garages will need to assess the business case carefully.
As DVSA expands the network, Vehicle Examination Facilities could become an increasingly important part of Britain’s vehicle approval infrastructure.
Primary sources
DVSA/GOV.UK – Set up a vehicle approval test centre
DVSA/GOV.UK – Run a vehicle approval test centre
DVSA – Creating a Vehicle Examination Facility network for approvals tests
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