MAG: Ministers urged to stop bike test rip-off

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Monday, 29, Sep 2008 12:00

MAG today called on the Department for Transport to prevent 40,000 new riders from being ripped-off by unjustified increases to test fees.

In February of this year, Parliament agreed a 33% increase in the cost of a bike test to cover the costs of a new, longer test from 29 September 2008. Despite not implementing the test as planned, the cost of a motorcycle rider test has increased from £60 to £80.

Parliament was specifically told that half of the test fee increase relates directly to the introduction of a longer, more demanding test. The regulation itself carries an explanatory note which is equally clear that the purpose behind raising the fees relates to special manoeuvres required to be undertaken off-road on a special testing ground.

With just two weeks to go and most of the required number of new test grounds not yet built, DSA finally admitted it had been forced to delay the new test. In a letter to the nation’s rider training schools on 12 September DSA said that test booking arrangements would continue as before. Some trainers have been shocked to find that they have booked the old style test in good faith but are now facing bills based on the delayed new test at a much higher cost.

MAG has urgently contacted the government asking them to take swift action to prevent a wide-spread rip-off. More than 40,000 new riders can be expected to apply for a test over the next six-months, taking the existing test but paying for the longer test.

David Short, MAG Campaigns Manager said “the government must act honourably in this, the test fees must be reduced and refunds made immediately. The new test itself has been delayed, it is neither justified nor in the spirit in which the legislation was laid before Parliament for the test fees to be increased.”

MAG members who own or work for rider training schools have warned of financial hardship suffered through the way the changes have been implemented hitherto. They fear the disruption they have suffered preparing for the now-delayed test and the increased cost of tests will damage the businesses they rely on.

“DSA have confirmed the cost of the new test centres are being built with cash from the sale of high-street test-centres backed by DfT loans and DSA reserves. The substantial increase in test fees at this time simply adds insult to injury.” Said David Short.

The Motorcycle Action Group represents the UK's one-and-a-half million motorcyclists. Many members have raised grave concerns over the whole £60 million Multi Purpose Test Centre strategy DSA claims the new test requires. All EU member states must comply with the new test requirements but have not opted for the same solution as Britain.

ENDS

For further comment, contact:

Nich Brown, General-Secretary, Motorcycle Action Group 01788 570066

Notes:

The EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM TO THE MOTOR VEHICLES (DRIVING LICENCES) (AMENDMENT) REGULATIONS 2008 (2008 No. 508) prepared by the Department for Transport and laid before Parliament and the Joint Committee on Statutory Instruments in February this year is quite specific.

3.3 The fee for the practical motorcycle and moped tests will increase from £60.00 to £80.00 (a 33% increase) for tests taken during normal hours on or after 29 September 2008. Fifty percent of this increase (£10.00) relates directly to the introduction of a longer, more demanding test from that date. The balance of the increase reflects the higher cost incurred by DSA in delivering motorcycle tests in general. New manoeuvres introduced at that date will add approximately 10 minutes to the length of each test. This will result in a loss of examiner productivity as examiners will only be able to conduct six tests per day rather than the current seven. The new test will be delivered from a series of specially constructed Multi Purpose Test Centres to allow the manoeuvres to be safely conducted off-road. The fee for an out-of-hours test increases from £70.00 to £92.00 (a 31.4% increase) from 29 September 2008. Extended test fees rise from £120.00 to £160.00 (a 33.3% increase) during normal hours and from £140.00 to £184.00 (a 31.4% increase) for an out-of-hours test from the same date

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/pdf/uksi_20080508_en.pdf

http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2008/em/uksiem_20080508_en.pdf