Overview

• Under the plans, the maximum service charge cap would rise to £70 for HGVs, £50 for trailers, and £90 for buses and coaches.
• The DVSA says a £15 rise for HGVs would translate to at most a 9% increase in overall test costs if ATFs charge the full amount, with trailers and buses/coaches up to roughly 11%.
• The consultation runs from 25 September to 21 November 2025, with operators and drivers invited to submit views before 11:59pm on the closing date.
• This would be the first change to ATF service charge caps since 2010, which the DVSA frames as necessary to cover higher running costs and sustain the testing network.
• Car MOT fees are unaffected, and the DVSA notes not all ATFs charge the maximum or any service fee, with nearly all large-vehicle tests conducted at private ATF sites.