Vehicle testing
Goods vehicles exceeding 3,500kg must normally take their initial test before the end of the first anniversary month of their date of registration. For example, a vehicle registered in May 2008 must be submitted for test by 31 May 2009. After initial testing, vehicles and trailers have to be tested annually, either by the anniversary of the first examination or by the expiry of the current test certificate.
The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) undertakes this testing and issues a certificate on successful completion of the annual test. A vehicle which fails on any of the items set by VOSA must be re-tested. Operators may have the opportunity to repair minor faults on VOSA's site and can pass after 'rectification at the station' rather than returning to re-test.
Headlamp aim is the most common reason for annual test failure on large goods vehicles and passenger carrying vehicles; the failure rate being as high as 20 per cent. Following a consultation in 2008, VOSA is implementing changes which aim to reduce the failure rate and improve consistency. FTA has published a compliance guide on the new changes to headlamp aim testing.
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Please use the following operator tools to find out about other issues relating to vehicle testing.
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