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Back to Motoring news

Motoring news

Driver test and licence fees hiked

27/03/2009

The cost of taking car and motorcycle driving tests will go up from next week, as the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) introduces new pricing.

The charges, which come into effect on 30 March, include a modest £1 rise (to £31) in the cost of a theory test, but also a 9.7% increase in the cost of a standard weekday practical test that will see car drivers paying £62.

Motorcyclists taking a standard practical test face a 13.1% hike to £90.50.

Meanwhile the cost of keeping an existing licence legal is to increase by more than 14% from 6 April, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) has announced. Motorists will be charged £20 to replace a lost or stolen licence, remove expired endorsements or update a licence photo - up from the current £17.50.

Existing free services - such as a change of name or address - will remain free.

"We provide as many services as possible free of charge but we must cover our costs through the fees we charge," said DVLA chief executive Noel Shanahan, adding that the increases would help the agency continue to provide a high standard of service.

However, the AA argued that the cost of keeping a licence up-to-date "could be covered by general motoring taxation".

The association's head of roads and transport policy, Paul Watters, said: "We as drivers are not cushioned from the increasing costs of staying lawful, although we pay £46 billion a year in motoring taxes".

Defending the DSA's increases - which follow a public consultation - chief executive Rosemary Thew 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 general running costs, development work and increases in inflation."