Increase in cost of UK provisional driving licence and theory and practical driving test fees

On 01 April 2008 in what appears to be a rather unfunny April Fool's Day joke, the cost of a provisional driving licence and the fees for both the Theory and Practical tests increased.


The cost of a provisional driving licence is now �50.00. This time last year it was �38.00. It went up to �45.00 in May 2007. An increase of 31.5% in a year.


The Theory Test fee is now �30.00. This time last year it was �21.50. It increased to �28.50 in September 2007. An increase of 39.5% in a year.


The Practical Test fee for cars is now �56.50 (daytimes) / �67.00 (evenings & weekends). Prior to 01 April it was �48.50 (daytimes) / �58.00 (evenings & weekends). An increase of 16.5%/15.5% in a year.


Massive increases...well above the rate of inflation (around 2.5%), but the customer has no alternative but to pay if they want to drive legally.


Value for money?


Has the service improved?


How are increases of this size justified?


Beats me...