Vehicle testing centres (without test tracks)
Source: gov.uk (2025-04-28)

This publication is intended for Valuation Officers. It may contain links to internal resources that are not available through this version.

1. Scope

1.1 This section relates to premises associated with the testing of automotive vehicles or components.

These hereditaments fall into 2 types:

a.Proving Grounds where automotive components may be designed, engineered and proven either on tracks or within specialist buildings. These tend to a National Valuation unit class and commonly valued using the Contractors basis of valuation.

b.Premises occupied by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) – “vehicle testing centres” (VTC). These feature traditional buildings and more limited track features and are used to test complete commercial vehicles.

1.2 Most, if not all VTCs comprise HGV Testing Stations operated by DVSA.

1.3 The DVSA is responsible for the testing of all light and heavy goods vehicles which are registered within Great Britain. It is also responsible for enforcement which includes adherence to the weight regulations and in ensuring that vehicles are in a road-worthy state.

1.4 Testing of buses, coaches and lorries is exclusively undertaken by and is the responsibility of the DVSA. The majority of the testing takes place at the 90 or so testing stations within England, Wales and Scotland. Testing can occur outside the designated testing stations and this typically arises where a transport fleet or bus company installs its own testing equipment. In these circumstances, the test will be carried out at the owners premises by DVSA staff. These facilities are designated “authorised testing facility”.

1.5 The testing regime was first established during the late 1960’s and the vast majority of the testing facilities comprising the DVSA estate, were erected during 1968.

1.6 About 85% of the testing stations within the estate are of similar design. A testing station typically comprises a testing hall which will have between 1 and 5 lanes with pits together with adjacent offices (for administration and enforcement purposes) mess and rest rooms, storage space, toilets and a boiler house. The testing hall has a flat roof, with a steel frame and uninsulated walls, glazed along one side. The offices are generally of single storey of brick construction with a flat roof. It will usually be located on an industrial estate.

2. List description and special category code

2.1 List description: Vehicle Proving Ground and Premises MX

Vehicle Testing Centre & Premises MX

2.2 SCAT 290 Vehicle Testing Centres (with Test Tracks).

As a split Class the appropriate suffix letter should be either V (for Proving Grounds valued by National Valuation unit), or S (for Test Centres valued by Unit Valuers).

2.3 SCAT 291 Vehicle Testing Centres (without test tracks) are a Non domestic rating Unit class.

3. Responsible teams

3.1 Responsibility for the valuation and referencing of this class of property is split as follows:

Proving Grounds are dealt with by the Industrial and Crown Team within the National Valuation unit.

Vehicle Testing Centres and small Proving facilities (featuring limited track features and surfaces) are dealt with by Valuers within the Non domestic rating Business Units.

4. Co-ordination

4.1 Responsibility for ensuring effective co-ordination lies with both National Valuation unit and Non domestic rating Business Units.

4.2 Given the different nature of facilities and the different methods of valuation it is unlikely close coordination between National Valuation unit & Units will be required. Vehicle Testing Centres should be coordinated with similar aged sized rental based industrials in the locality, with where applicable additions for additional surfaced land.

4.3 Queries relating to allocation or costs for uncommon track features should be directed to the class leader within the National Valuation unit.

5. Legal framework

5.1 No known issues affecting the class.

6. Survey requirements

6.1 Basis of measurement for Buildings at Vehicle Proving and Vehicle Testing Centres is GIA. Guidance for information sought in respect of plant and machinery and civil items should be taken from the VOA Cost Guide.

6A Safety on Site

6.2 All Vehicle Testing Centres and Proving Grounds will feature moving vehicles, so reasonable care is required when carrying out inspections in particular when crossing roads and yard areas.

6.3 Members of the VOA visiting this type of property for an inspection or other reason should check in advance with the site what PSE is required.

6.4 Staff should ensure they are aware of all the VOA guidelines on health and safety and as a minimum requirement attend with non-slip safety boots and high viz clothing.

6.5 Oil is obviously slippery and staff should beware of wet surfaces and shallow bunds which present a trip hazard. Whenever using staircases ensure one hand is on the railings to prevent accidental falls.

6.6 Staff visiting Proving Grounds should be conscious of the sensitive nature of some vehicles which may be present on site including Military vehicles and automotive prototypes. Camera permits should be sought from the site in advance, where applicable, and mobile phones and other recordable devises should not be taken on site without the ratepayers consent.

6B Plant and Machinery

6.7 See Rating Manual section 6: part 5 (https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rating-manual-section-6-chhallenges-to-the-rating-list/part-5.-plant-and-machinery) for general advice on identification of rateable plant and machinery forming part of the hereditament. Rateable plant and machinery is identified in accordance with the provisions of SI 2000 No. 540 in England and SI 2000 No. 1097 (W.75) in Wales.

6.8 This Class includes specialist items of P&M which require special consideration. Inspection pits are common and should be costed using the VOCG pit calculator and applying and age and obsolescence adjustment in line with the age of the building. Weighbridges are not rateable but an addition should be made for the setting (pit RCG 3000Q5/6) in which it sits with an allowance for age and obsolescence on the plant allowance table. The air mains and compressor are rateable and should also be included in the valuation.

6C Additional Land

The local tone may allow for some circulation space to be included in the valuation for the building. With this class there is usually additional areas of concrete used for testing and these should be separately valued, and included in the assessment if local practice dictates.

7. Survey capture

7.1 Survey data for Proving Grounds (National Valuation unit) is recorded manually in binders in the custodianship of the National Valuation unit’s caseworker support team.

7.2 Survey details for other Vehicle Testing Centres are held on RSA and EDRM in the same manner as other bulk-class hereditaments.

8. Valuation approach

8.1 Proving Grounds (National Valuation unit) –This type of property is not normally let and includes a variety of specialist track features including high speed bowls, mile straight, Belgium paving, ramps, water troughs along with some specialist buildings including anechoic test cells, climatic and electromagnetic test chambers. The traditional method of valuation is the contractor’s basis. This should be the primary method for those hereditaments where the majority of value rests in none traditional buildings and track elements and features.

8.2 Vehicle Testing Centres will be valued on a rentals approach having regard to the local tone with additions where applicable for additional land or track features. Although this class might be regarded as sui generis it is considered that there is sufficient rental evidence of similar types of property that they may be valued on the local tone for light industrial with no adjustment for sui generis (i.e. characteristics associated with the actual use as a vehicle testing station). The rental/comparative method should be adopted.

9. Valuation support

9.1 Valuations for all Proving Grounds (National Valuation unit) are held on the Non-Bulk Server (NBS).

9.2 Vehicle Testing Centres are recorded on RSA.

9.3 Please refer cases of difficulty via Unit team leader to Unit technical adviser in the first instance. National Specialists Unit Industrial and Crown team will advise where local resolution is not possible.

Practice note: 2023 - vehicle testing centres (without test tracks)

1. Market Appraisal

1.1 Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is the government body responsible for vehicle testing the UK.

1.2 As part of their vehicle testing function they conduct annual tests of lorries, buses and trailers in their own centres and in authorised testing facilities (ATFs).

1.3 Official statistics illustrate the trend of decreasing numbers of DVSA sites used for annual testing of commercial vehicles, whilst the numbers of non-DVSA sites which include ATFs and designated premises have risen since 2015.

1.4 In 2017 a moratorium on the establishment of new ATFs was announced by the DVSA. The recent Heavy Vehicle Testing Review undertaken by the Department for Transport has recommended to reopen the market by ending the pause on applications. Applications for new ATFs were accepted by the DVSA from June 2021.

1.5 The impact of the Covid pandemic on the automotive industry was marked by considerable variation between sectors. In the MOT garage and vehicle repair sector, media comment around the Antecedent Valuation Date focused on the fact that a large number of vehicles benefitting from pandemic-driven MOT extensions are now overdue for re-test.

1.6 DVSA stopped mainstream heavy vehicle testing on 21 March 2020, following the announcement of the UK-wide lockdown. While testing was suspended, vehicles were issued with Certificates of Temporary Exemption (CTEs), which added 3 months to the test due date. This meant that when testing was resumed, there could be double the usual number of vehicles requiring a test in some months. If testing requirements were simply reintroduced, then demand for tests would have exceeded supply.

1.7 To address this powers were taken in the Business and Planning Act 2020, to permit the issuing of longer CTEs, to vehicles and operators with good road safety profiles. This system was in place for tests due from September 2020 onwards. The testing backlog would then gradually reduce over time, generally prioritising testing for vehicles with the poorest road safety profiles.

1.8 The easing of Government restrictions has seen traffic rapidly returning to pre-pandemic levels. This is particularly true in the road haulage and public transport sectors as people return back to work.

2. Changes from the last practice note

2.1. The market appraisal and plant and machinery sections have been updated. Reference to roller shutter doors in the plant and machinery section has been removed.

3. Ratepayer Discussions

3.1 There have been no discussions with ratepayers.

4. Valuation Scheme

4.1 The rental/comparative method should be adopted with additions where applicable for additional land or track features. Although this class might be regarded as sui generis it is considered that there is enough rental evidence of similar types of property that valuations can be underpinned by the local light industrial tone. Where sites have physical advantages, such as enhanced visibility or structural adaptations, the rental value will increase above local industrial levels reflecting rentals levels found on vehicle repair workshops and MOT test centres (SCat 289). Those that are purpose-built properties and constructed after the late 1980s, are most likely to meet the ideal specification and location requirements.

5. Plant and Machinery

5.1 The common items of plant and machinery likely to be found include inspection pits, weighbridge pits, air compressors and associated pipework, test ramp and security cameras.

5.2 These should be captured and valued in accordance with the Plant and Machinery sections of the Rating Manual and the prevailing 2023 Cost Guide.

5.3 The 2023 prescribed rate of decapitalisation should be applied where appropriate.

Practice note: 2017- vehicle testing centres (without test tracks)

1. Market appraisal

1.1 There is no “market” as such for these facilities. It is a Government responsibility to ensure that heavy goods and public transport vehicles are in a roadworthy condition.

1.2 The extent to which the “market” for these facilities affects value will be determined by the general level of value for industrial hereditaments in the locality.

2. Changes from the last practice note

2.1 No change to valuation methodology but see updated plant and machinery costs in section 4 below.

3. Ratepayer discussions

3.1 There have been no discussions with ratepayers.

4. Valuation Scheme

4.1 The rental/comparative method should be adopted having regard to the local tone with additions where applicable for additional land or track features. Although this class might be regarded as sui generis it is considered that there is sufficient rental evidence of similar types of property that they may be valued on the local tone for light industrial with no adjustment for sui generis (i.e. characteristics associated with the actual use as a vehicle testing station).

4.2 The costs shown in this section are for ease of reference. In all cases where a cost guide code is shown it is this that which must be input into the NBS template, not the costs shown here. Where the cost guide code shows options, the costs shown in this practice note should be used to aid selection. Should the cost guide show different costs to those shown in a current version of this practice note, please refer to the CCT.

4.3 Typical P&M additions for the standard design stations built in the late 1960s:

Where the above figures conflict with the actual item and the RCG figure for it adopt RCG advice.