Complain or claim compensation from DVA
The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) is committed to delivering a high standard of service and continually strives to improve performance. Find out how to contact the DVA and what to do if you are not satisfied with the service you have received.
Make a formal complaint
DVA works within a framework set by law and the decisions made have to be in line with relevant laws. It may not always be possible to meet your expectations.
DVA have a two-stage complaints procedure, which means that you have the right to have your complaint reviewed by someone else in DVA, if you are not happy with your response at stage one.
After the two internal stages, you can refer your complaint to the NI Public Services Ombudsman. See further details below.
To make a formal complaint, you can email DVA using the details at the link below:
To help DVA deal with your complaint you should give DVA as much relevant information as possible including:
- your full name and address
- your date of birth or driver number (if your complaint relates to your driving licence)
- your vehicle's registration number (if your complaint relates to a vehicle or a driving test)
- your daytime contact number (if possible)
- full details of your complaint, including any earlier dealings with DVA about it
All the correspondence you receive from DVA about the complaint will give the contact details of the person who sent them and a reference number.
Stage one
Your complaint is forwarded to the manager of the section, office or centre that you have been dealing with, to respond in detail to the issue you have raised.
Stage two
If you are not happy with the reply at stage one, you can escalate the matter to stage two and a senior manager responsible for the area of concern will look again at all the information received from you and the response given at stage one. Their reply will be reviewed and discussed with the DVA Chief Executive, who will issue a stage two reply to you.
If you are still not satisfied
If you are still dissatisfied with the Agency’s response or how your complaint has been handled, you can refer the matter to the Northern Ireland Public Service Ombudsman.
The Ombudsman is independent and can investigate complaints against government departments and their agencies. The Ombudsman will normally expect you to have exhausted the DVA complaints procedure before considering your complaint.
Compensation
Sometimes when things go wrong you may be entitled to compensation. DVA will consider a claim for compensation if:
- a test is cancelled for any reason within its control and the notification given is less than one clear working day for vehicle tests and three clear working days for driving tests
- your vehicle is damaged on, or in, DVA property and the Agency is found to be negligent
- the Departmental Solicitor’s Office or Northern Ireland Public Service Ombudsman recommends that compensation be paid
DVA will not consider compensation if the reason for cancelling a test is outside its control. For example, if a test is cancelled because of bad weather or a power failure. However, every effort will be made to give you a new test date as soon as possible.
DVA aims to:
- make applying for compensation as easy as possible for you
- pay you within 10 working days of your claim being settled
- identify areas where problems often occur and take steps to improve its services
Amount of compensation paid
If the DVA does not give you the accepted period of notification and the reason for cancellation was within its control, you will get an automatic payment of 50 per cent of the test fee, plus a new appointment date.
If the DVA accepts liability, you will get reimbursement of any expenses that arise as a direct result of a cancelled test or a damaged vehicle which are verifiable and you reasonably had to pay.
If a compensation claim needs to be independently assessed, the Agency will normally pay the amount recommended by the Ombudsman or the DVA Central Claims Unit.
Any costs associated with legal representation or other third parties in undisputed cases will stay the responsibility of the customer.
How to claim compensation
Claims related to the cancellation of tests:
- claims for expenses must be in writing
- where possible, you should give receipts for any costs you had to pay
- the claim and supporting evidence should be sent to the centre where the test was due to take place
You do not need to claim the 50 per cent of the test fee as this is paid to you automatically.
Claims involving damage to a vehicle
You should report it as soon as possible to the test centre manager who will inspect the damage. Or if you have already left the premises, arrange a time for you to return with the vehicle for inspection.
The test centre manager will give you a claim form. The claim and a quote from a recognised garage showing the cost of repairing the damage should be returned to the test centre manager.
Once a claim is received
DVA aims to issue a decision to all formal requests for compensation within 10 working days.
It will thoroughly investigate your claim and examine all evidence available. As part of this process it may be necessary to ask you for additional documents or information.
You will be informed if additional time is needed to investigate your claim.
If you are still not happy
If, during or after the processing of a claim, you wish to complain about any aspect of DVA's service or the handling of your claim, you can write to the customer services manager at the link below.