This was not announced in the budget, as the government prides itself of presenting an exercise which does not contain new taxes or others that are raised.

But drivers who have taken their car for a VRT this year have found out, to their dismay, that the cost of carrying out a test has risen by €5.

VRT testing now costs €30.27, as against the €25.27 that used to be charged until last year.

Drivers were told that this increase in charge was agreed by all VRT stations and makes up for the increase in costs for carrying out a service.

“There goes half my COLA for the first week of the year,” one driver commented. The COLA given for 2023 is €9.90 per week.

“Didn’t the government say that there will not be any increase in taxes,” one other driver commented.

VRT testing is an obligation for drivers after the car has been on the road for five years, and every two years from then onwards. If the car does not pass the test, no insurance cover or licence will be issued unless the necessary alterations or repairs bare carried out.

No public announcement has been made on the increase in the cost of a VRT test.