Posibilty of driving test fee increasing

betterdrive.net

Having seen the post about the cost of driving tests increasing, i have to confirm that it is seriously under review and has been for nearly a year.
Instructors were give a heads up by the RSA about 15 months ago. Thsi was done during a meeting to discuss the Forthcoming change in legislation about Driving Instructors. I have no recent information about this.
At the time the reasons given for increasing the fee in the future was down to people not showing up for their test. So it is deemed that as far as the RSA are concerned that losing 38 Euro was not incentive enough to show up.
I would suspect that we are going to see a change in fees very shortly.
Also there has been unrest recently over the private test centres.
I believe it costs about 120 Euro to give a test to the private company and have been told that the RSA centres are running at severe losses.

I am giving you guys what information i have been told and heard..Thats All
Dont shoot the messenger

Permabear

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Alanstrainor

Dont shoot the messenger

No need to worry betterdrive, we wont be shooting anyone today!
And i agree, the fee is low enough for people to just write off if they dont feel like taking the test, and for those who apply to multiple test centres. So i would welcome a fee increase, it should in theory cut waiting times. I would doubt whether it would bring about a change within the RSA to improve efficiency though.

betterdrive.net

Alanstrainor wrote: »

No need to worry betterdrive, we wont be shooting anyone today!
And i agree, the fee is low enough for people to just write off if they dont feel like taking the test, and for those who apply to multiple test centres. So i would welcome a fee increase, it should in theory cut waiting times. I would doubt whether it would bring about a change within the RSA to improve efficiency though.

Just to calrify some other issues as well.
1. Lessons are not compulsory but soon will be. The RSA are working on this and in the same meeting this was discussed. They were thinking 10 hours initially but i fear this will be upped to appox 15 hours. That is if the CBT training for motorcyclists is to be used as a guide.I heard this may be coming into force in January

2. The waiting list is rising at a quick rate for Driving Tests and the RSA seem no too bothered although summer testing hours have now begun.
The test centres should be open from 8am to about 7pm for the summer.

3. The SGS examiners have been reduced to 20 or so from 120 approx and not last week but the week before Dun Laoghaire test centre handled a whole 9 tests in a week. So god knows what the RSA is up to.

Last but not least i have to say i enjoy this forum but sometimes i cringe when i see some advice that is given. I urge everyone involved with the forum to take some of the advice with a pinch of salt and be sensible.
I am in no way trying to criticise anyone and hope this forum continues to answer questions for the less experienced.
Hopefully when the ADI registration process is complete. When everyone knows that the person giving information is qualified a sub forum could be created for user to ask the instructor as such . This could be anonymous and policed by the mods so as it is not advertising .
IE the instuctors could have agreed user names not associated with their own school and just give honest replies.

Sorry for ranting

Permabear

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timmywex

A better idea surely would be to charge a fee such as 70euro on booking the test, and refund some monies if the test is taken?!

betterdrive.net

donegalfella wrote: »

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DonegalFella i agree totaly with what you say and please dont think i am questioning the elegibility of anyone to advise. I agree that the forum is for the best part self regulating as regards people having different views and opinions. That to me is the core attraction to this forum.

What i am saying in real terms is that at times i have seen information and advice given that could be problematic but i and other instructors have been reluctant to comment.
I am not viewing this forum as an expert in all things driving , rather as someone who knows the reality of working with people all day who have similar issues to what are being posted.
All im sayin in reality is , it may be good to have a point of reference to unknown or confusing situations that other posters may have come across.

PS not tryin to fight

betterdrive.net

timmywex wrote: »

A better idea surely would be to charge a fee such as 70euro on booking the test, and refund some monies if the test is taken?!

Timmy i agree in principal to what you suggest, however i believe that the other objective of a posible price rise may be to make the system pay for itself. For as long as i have been teaching the fee has always been 38 euro but thats a long time to hold that fee.
For example a part 2 ADI driving test costs 200 Euro and is approximately twice the length of a standard test.
When we questioned the RSA about this ( why 5 times the price) we were told it is reflecting what they intend to charge for normal tests in future. They hinted possibly close to 100 euro

Alanstrainor

It would be unfeasible to have a sub forum where only instructors could reply. As said, this is a public forum and cornering it to a point where only a select few can respond would not be a good idea imo. There is plenty of sound advice given on this forum everyday, and if there is any wrong or flawed advice i'd like to think it is corrected by other members, whether they be instructors themselves or otherwise.
I'm unsure as to why you feel, or have felt reluctant to comment when you disagree with advice given? Surely this would solve the problem you have outlined?
This forum benefits because of its wide range of regular posters, from the experienced, to the inexperienced, to the qualified and unqualified. Each offers their advice, and each group benefits the forum.

Permabear

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pandamoanium

BetterDrive,

Thanks for the info, it's much appreciated!

It's good to know what changes may be in the pipeline..

I don't suppose they gave you guys any sort of indication as to when they may introduce these new fees - later this year, not til year..?

Also, do you reckon they could be implemented literally overnight, or would they have to spend a few weeks notifying the public of the changes etc..?

Sorry for picking your brains there, anxious to know as I haven't even applied for my test yet, obviously would prefer to have it over and done with (and hopefully pass!!) before the hike! :pac:

Re: this forum in general..

Just wanted to say I really appreciate everyone on here who gives their advice and suggestions, I know personally in my case it's been of great benefit to me and I'm sure the same can be said for countless others on here too. It's just great to think that you guys dedicate so much of your time selflessy to helping others, encouraging people and giving advice.. so, thanks!

betterdrive.net

pandamoanium wrote: »

BetterDrive,

Thanks for the info, it's much appreciated!

It's good to know what changes may be in the pipeline..

I don't suppose they gave you guys any sort of indication as to when they may introduce these new fees - later this year, not til year..?

Also, do you reckon they could be implemented literally overnight, or would they have to spend a few weeks notifying the public of the changes etc..?

Sorry for picking your brains there, anxious to know as I haven't even applied for my test yet, obviously would prefer to have it over and done with (and hopefully pass!!) before the hike! :pac:

Re: this forum in general..

Just wanted to say I really appreciate everyone on here who gives their advice and suggestions, I know personally in my case it's been of great benefit to me and I'm sure the same can be said for countless others on here too. It's just great to think that you guys dedicate so much of your time selflessy to helping others, encouraging people and giving advice.. so, thanks!

Ok Donegalfella i wont go into detail as to why myself and other instructors feel uneasy sometimes about posting. Though i will probably send you a PM regarding.

Pandamoanium to answer your question the best i can.

At the meetings that were held last year, the structure for things were outlined.
1. All instructors had to do exams set by the RSA by 1st Jan 2009 ( since been changed to end of April)

2. Waiting list had to drop to allow people to get a test in an average of 12 weeks throughout country tus giving people no excuse for not having taken a test.

3 Motorbike lesons to become compulsory ( apparently starting this summer)

4. Compulsory lessons for cars to be introduced shortly after, originally mentioned 10 hrs but believe its gonna be more. They cant make motorcyclist take more than car drivers after all.

5. DRiving test fees to be brought into line with the rest of Europe as 38 Euro is too litle and the testing service was costing far more than that per test.Plus people not showing up.

So from Aprils end all instructors are regulated, June motorbike lessons are compulsory. The Irish Times i believe stated that the RSA were looking to outsource another 70,000 tests. So waiting lists will drop again if that happens.
I heard from a senior examiner that compulsory lessons are going to be introduced once the list is under control again.
I would almost guarantee that the cost of tests wil go up to fund the 70,000 outsourced tests

pandamoanium

Thanks for that BetterDrive, thats very informative.. handy to know what's around the corner.

Right, well that's it, more motivation for me now to kick the lessons up a notch and get test ready before the new fees come in! :pac:

Wishbone Ash

I've always thought that the test fee for a category B vehicle was ridiculously cheap at €38 as it's roughly the same price as a half a tank of fuel. It wouldn't even buy a round of drinks yet people complain about it. For 95% of those who pass first time, it will be the only time they pay it. That's fantastic value.

If I was in charge, I'd make it €600 with a refundable €500 for those who turn up.

jhegarty

I think adding €200 to your next test fee for a no show would do far more to help. This would also not hurt the people who intend to turn up.

Permabear

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Permabear

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fiona-f

Thanks for the info on the possiblity of new fees - hopefully the test I'm currently waiting on will be my last but useful to know!

On the timing issue, it may be useful to look at what was done with passport fees recently - they ran adverts about increased fees from mid-January onwards and the increase applied from 1 February. So it seems that we can expect some (but not a lot) advance notice. In any case, anyone even considering doing their test in the next year or so is probably well advised to apply now, if my experience with the waiting list is anything to go by - five months wait for a date which I then had to cancel due to a business trip abroad, left hanging now with no new date for at least a further three months!

Fingers crossed that a higher fee will mean a better service and less waiting! Is that terribly naive of me?

JP Liz

rumoured to be increasing to €100