Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency
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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 complete Response to Consultation Report is available on http://www.dsa.gov.uk
Notes to Editor:
1. The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) is an executive agency of the Department for Transport.
2. Information on road casualties is available on the Department for Transport website http://www.dft.gov.uk
3. The Agency's aim is to promote road safety through improving driving standards, testing drivers and riders fairly and efficiently, maintaining the registers of Approved Driving Instructors and Large Goods Vehicle Instructors and Post Test Motorcycle Trainers as well as supervising basic training for learner motorcyclists.
4. DSA is a trading fund with an expected turnover of around £164 million for the year 2007/8, fully funded by fee income and revenue from its activities.
5. DSA employs 2657 (2,585 full time equivalent), of which some 2,020 are driving examiners (1945 full time equivalent) based at over 432 test centres across mainland Great Britain. In 2006/2007 the Agency conducted 1.8 million practical tests for car drivers, 89,000 vocational tests and 78,000 motorcycle rider tests. A total of 1.5 million theory tests were carried out at 158 centres. At the end of the year there were 39,001 people on the Register of Approved Driving Instructors.
6. DSA is one of the first Government Agencies to introduce an 'online' booking service. Candidates can book and manage their theory and practical test appointments on line at http://www.direct.gov.uk/drivingtest
