ATFOA
  • Welcome
  • Join or renew today
ATFOA
  • Welcome
  • Join or renew today

Welcome to the ATFOA. Join or renew today, and make a difference.

Welcome to the ATFOA. Join or renew today, and make a difference.

Welcome to the ATFOA. Join or renew today, and make a difference.

Welcome to the ATFOA. Join or renew today, and make a difference.

Welcome to the ATFOA. Join or renew today, and make a difference.

Welcome to the ATFOA. Join or renew today, and make a difference.

Welcome

We're the ATF Operators Association (ATFOA), representing a nationwide network of 400 Authorised Testing Facilities (ATFs) — the MOT centres for HGVs, buses, coaches, and trailers across the UK.


Explore our work, and if our mission resonates with you, join or renew your membership today — and help us make a difference.

Learn more

Introduction

I'm Stephen Smith, the individual behind the inception of the ATFOA in 2013, and I've served as its chair ever since then.


Additionally, I'm the CEO of Boleyn Recovery & Fleet Services, a family-owned business (and ATF) with an unbroken trading legacy spanning more than 60 years. This experience provides me with firsthand knowledge of the industry.


While I believe the ATFOA has played a crucial role in influencing government policies regarding HGV MOT testing, there is more work to be done, as you'll discover.


Before my involvement with ATFOA, I held the position of president at the Association of Vehicle Recovery Operators (AVRO), the oldest and largest representative body for professional recovery operators in the UK and Ireland. 


During my tenure, I spearheaded successful lobbying efforts, initially in Scotland, prompting a review and an increase in statutory vehicle recovery rates. Subsequently, our advocacy reached the UK Parliament, resulting in a commendable 27% increase in statutory vehicle recovery rates and a commitment to annual reviews.


I look forward to seeing what we can achieve by working together.


Join or renew today, and make a difference.

KEEP READING

DVSA consultation on ATF service charges

On  25 September 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) published a consultation on proposals to increase the maximum service charges that ATFs can charge their customers.

Engagement

This consultation follows 18 months of sustained engagement between ATFOA, the Department for Transport (DfT), and the DVSA, since our relaunch in April 2024. ATFOA represents an industry of around 400 ATFs.


On behalf of the industry, we have consistently highlighted that ATF service charges (the 'pit fees') have remained unchanged since the ATF contract was introduced in 2010. Over this period, costs have risen significantly with inflation, while running costs - including investment in updated equipment to ensure modern vehicles are safe and compliant - have also grown. To remain viable, ATFs must be allowed to recover these costs. The DVSA, to their credit, acknowledges and supports this case.

Charges

In seeking to balance affordability for vehicle operators with the need for ATFs to continue operating and investing, DVSA is proposing a gradual increase in service charges, broadly reflecting CPI since ATFOA's inception in 2013. The current and proposed maximum charges are set out in section five of the consultation.

Response

Reflecting on this progress, we believe the proposed amounts are about right for now (question six), and that, provided DVSA commits to annual reviews of the service charges (question eight), we are recommending members should support these proposals.


We therefore encourage members to respond to the short consultation as above before the deadline of 11:59pm on Friday 21 November 2025.

I believe the proposed amounts are about right and would like the DVSA to commit to annual reviews.

Join or renew today, and make a difference.

Join or renew for £365 per year (£1 per day).

WHY JOIN OR RENEW?

Active campaigning

Active campaigning

Active campaigning

In order to do things differently and affect the changes we're seeking, the ATFOA needs to allocate time to preparing materials and meeting with key politicians (including the government and opposition frontbenches as well as members of the Transport Committee and Road Freight & Logistics APPG), officials, and other stakeholders.

POLITICAL CONTACT

Useful insights

Active campaigning

Active campaigning

As we make progress, the ATFOA would like to keep members informed of our various activities by sharing regular updates via emails and our newsletter 'Word of Mouth'. We will also leverage our website and social media channels to promote our members. Please stay tuned for more information about future sponsorship opportunities.

ATFOA NEWS

Highly visible

Active campaigning

Highly visible

In time, the ATFOA would like to invite stakeholders and members to our own targeted events and encourage networking opportunities. For now, we'll represent members at industry receptions, conferences, and shows such as the RHA parliamentary reception, ConservativeHome transport conference, and Commercial Vehicle Show.

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Industry events

17/06/25

ITS UK Parliamentary Reception

2:00pm

-

5:00pm

UK

Event Details

17/06/25

ITS UK Parliamentary Reception

Our team caught up with industry colleagues at the annual Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) UK reception in Parliament.

2:00pm

-

5:00pm

UK

12/05/25-18/05/25

National Coach Week 2025

All day

UK

Event Details

12/05/25-18/05/25

National Coach Week 2025

Our team celebrated National Coach Week.

All day

UK

29/04/25-01/05/25

Commercial Vehicle Show 2025

All day

NEC, Birmingham

Event Details

29/04/25-01/05/25

Commercial Vehicle Show 2025

Our members attended the annual Commercial Vehicle Show.

All day

NEC, Birmingham

03/03/25

The London Logistics Evening

6:30pm

-

9:00pm

Marylebone, London

Event Details

03/03/25

The London Logistics Evening

Our team was represented at RHA's London event celebrating those who keep London supply chains moving.

6:30pm

-

9:00pm

Marylebone, London

10/02/25-14/02/25

National Apprenticeship Week 2025

All day

UK

Event Details

10/02/25-14/02/25

National Apprenticeship Week 2025

Our team marked National Apprenticeship Week.

All day

UK

More Events

News

ATFOA public affairs/media

If you have a political or media question for the ATFOA or Stephen Smith, please don't hesitate to get in touch with our public affairs and PR consultant. For anything else however, do get in touch via the form below.

Consultant contact

Adam Honeysett-Watts

+44 (0)7903 979 383

atfoa@dodifferent.uk

We'd love to hear from you.

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ATF Operators Association

c/o Boleyn Recovery & Fleet Services, 77 River Road, Barking, Essex, IG11 0DS

0845 64 247 64 atfoa@atfoa.co.uk

Hours

Mon

09:00 – 17:00

Tue

09:00 – 17:00

Wed

09:00 – 17:00

Thu

09:00 – 17:00

Fri

09:00 – 17:00

Sat

Closed

Sun

Closed

Copyright © 2013-2025. ATF Operators Association Ltd. All Rights Reserved. ATF Operators Association Ltd is a company limited by guarantee in England and Wales (number 11000201) operating under the trade nameS 'ATF OPERATORS ASSOCIATION' AND 'ATFOA'.


Main Photo courtesy of Musgrave Transport, an ATF based in East Yorkshire. To have your business profiled here and IN OUR NEWSLETTER, contact us. Find your nearest ATF.


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