Operator licences for goods vehicles

Lots of small businesses run a van or a lorry to carry goods.

Some of them need a goods vehicle operator's licence before the vehicle goes to work. The traffic commissioners grant these licences, and the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) runs the scheme for them.

These notes follow the GOV.UK guidance for England, Scotland and Wales. Northern Ireland has its own rules.

When a licence is needed

The answer mostly comes down to weight. A business needs a licence to carry goods in a lorry, van or other vehicle with a gross plated weight over 3,500 kg. Where a vehicle has no plated weight, the limit is an unladen weight of more than 1,525 kg.

A vehicle towing a trailer is counted as one combination. If the plated weights of the two add up to more than 3,500 kg, the operator needs a licence. A trailer with an unladen weight under 1,020 kg, carrying only your own goods, does not need one.

Vans working in Europe

Since May 2022, couriers and transport firms using vans or car-and-trailer combinations over 2.5 tonnes to carry goods for hire or reward in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland have needed a standard international licence. They have also needed a named transport manager.

Some of those operators relied on a light goods vehicle certificate held under "acquired rights". The traffic commissioners say that certificate could only be used on a licence until 20 May 2025.

The three kinds of licence

A restricted licence lets a business carry its own goods, but not anyone else's.

A standard national licence covers your own goods in the UK and abroad, and other people's goods in the UK.

A standard international licence covers your own goods and other people's goods, in the UK and on international journeys.

Both standard licences need a transport manager.

Vehicles that are exempt

GOV.UK lists several vehicles that need no operator's licence.

Some zero emission vehicles up to 4,520 kg, used only in England, Scotland and Wales.
A vehicle that uses public roads for less than 6 miles a week, moving between private premises of the same owner.
Hearses, snow ploughs and gritters, and recovery vehicles used only for recovery.
Military and emergency service vehicles.

Catering vehicles, mobile shops and mobile exhibition vehicles are never exempt.

Transport managers

A transport manager makes sure drivers hold valid licences and vehicles are taxed, insured and kept safe. They also check that drivers keep to the drivers' hours rules.

The qualification is the Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC). A transport manager does not need a driving licence. A freelance transport manager can work for up to 4 operators at once, with up to 50 vehicles in total.

Applying and keeping the licence

Operators apply online. They also advertise the application and their operating centre in a local newspaper, so that people have the chance to object. A decision usually takes about 7 weeks, and it is illegal to operate before the licence is issued.

An operator who needs to start sooner can ask for an interim licence, which lasts up to 6 months. Once licensed, operators keep safety inspection and maintenance records for at least 15 months. Drivers carry out a walkaround check before driving a vehicle for the first time each day.