The MPs looked at the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and have made several policy recommendations for the Government to consider.
BVRLA chief executive Gerry Keaney said: ‘The Government motoring agencies are going through a wide-ranging and long overdue modernisation programme, which involves some huge internal changes. At the same time, the DVSA and DVLA need to ensure that they remain focused on the needs of their business customers. We look forward to helping them do this.’
The BVRLA added that it gave evidence to MPs earlier this year, and many of its suggestions have made it through as recommendations in the Committee’s final report. It also pointed out that the report highlighted what has long been suspected by the BVRLA – that while the DVLA and DVSA meet the needs of the private motorist, business users aren’t provided with an adequate service.
‘It’s reassuring to see the report identify that both agencies need to develop a better understanding of the needs of business users. BVRLA members manage over five million separate paper transactions with the DVLA each year, so it’s great to hear that the report has called for an improved digital offering for fleets,’ Keaney added.
The BVRLA has calculated that if the fleet sector were able to interact with the DVLA electronically, it would help to secure cost savings to business in excess of £19.5 million each year.
The report also notes that data access, storage and sharing is essential for improving compliance. The BVRLA has previously highlighted the importance of data sharing between the agencies and their enforcement partners.
