What is the DVSA?
Sponsored by the Department for Transport (DFT), the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is an executive agency. They approve training providers. There is a difference between the DVSA and the Driver Vehicle Licencing Authority (DVLA).
The DVLA are responsible for maintaining the registration and licencing of vehicles and drivers. Along with the collection and enforcement of Vehicle Exercise Duty (VED) within Great Britain.
The DVSA carry out driving tests of all vehicle licence category groups. They also approve driving instructors and conduct vehicle tests. This is to make sure lorries and buses are safe to drive. This also includes roadside checks on drivers and vehicles.
Founded in April 2014, this was when the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) merged. The DVSA is an executive agency of the Department for Transport (DfT).
The organisation have many test centres in the UK. However, in recent years, they are leveraging existing training provider locations to base themselves from. In order for an examiner to operate in an external location, the training provider must first become an approved test centre.
2 Start currently have two locations that are approved test centres. These are Portsmouth and Southampton. Five of 2 Start’s training depots have 3a approved test areas.
There are also multiple approved 3a examiners employed by 2 Start Ltd.
The DVSAs responsibilities include
- Approving people to be driving instructors and motorcycle trainers, and making sure they provide good-quality training.
- Approving training courses for qualified drivers, such as Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (Driver CPC) courses for lorry, bus and coach drivers, and drink-drive rehabilitation courses.
- Supporting the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain and the Northern Ireland transport regulator to license and monitor companies who operate lorries, buses, and coaches, and to register local bus services.
- Carrying out roadside checks on commercial vehicles (as well as the drivers) to assure the rules for safety are being met, keeping their vehicles safe to drive.
The accrediting body outlined their 2022-2023 priorities. Those outlined below are what impact the logistics sector the most.
- Process HGV operator licence applications in an average of 35 working days
- Offer theory test appointments within 28 calendar days of booking (at your preferred test centre)
Regular audits are conducted by the appropriate officials. These are typically unannounced. The audits apply to the retention of being an approved test centre. Along with 3a approved test areas, and further ad hoc checks of our 3a examiners.
