VOSA

The Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) complete a number of activities and schemes. The key areas of road safety and environmental standards improvement we contribute to are listed below: MOT- VOSA supervise the MOT scheme to ensure that the 20, 000 garages authorised to carry out MOT’s are doing so to the correct standards. This is done by: documenting all test methods and standards; approving and training Authorised Examiners and Nominated Testers to carry out MOT tests; authorising MOT test stations and Nominated Testers; monitoring standards of MOT garages and tests; providing seminars and other advisory services; dealing with appeals and complaints from MOT customers; and, where necessary, taking disciplinary action to improve testing standards and raise levels of compliance. Licensing- VOSA provide administrative support to the Traffic Commissioners’ in considering and processing applications for licenses to operate lorries and buses This ensures that licence holders meet the standards set for entry into the commercial vehicle operator industry and seeks to minimise the environmental and road safety impact around goods vehicle operating centres.

Bus Registration- VOSA provide administrative support to the Traffic Commissioners’ in the registration of local bus services. Testing and Inspections- VOSA conduct statutory annual testing for lorries and buses at 97 VOSA test stations and at private sector owned approved testing premises (designated premises). We also offer a number of specialist inspections of vehicles.

For example: certification of PSVs before they enter service; inspections of imported or amateur built vehicles to comply with acceptable safety and environmental standards (Single Vehicle Approval for cars and motorcycles); and inspections to check the identity of written off vehicles that are returned to the road (Vehicle Identity Check).