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HGV road user levy

From:: Department for Transport
Part of:: Freight and Road network and traffic
Published:: 1 April 2014
Last updated:: 15 June 2015, see all updates

Background information on the HGV road user levy and its introduction on 1 April 2014.

Government has introduced a road user levy for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) of 12 tonnes or more. The aim of the levy is to ensure these vehicles make a contribution to the wear and tear of the road network. The levy was introduced by the HGV Road User Levy Act 2013 and began on 1 April 2014. An update is available on levy receipts and levels of compliance during its first year of operation.

HGV Levy video

Cost and payment

Levy amounts vary according to the vehicle’s weight, axle configuration and levy duration.

UK registered vehicles

From 1 April 2014, UK registered vehicles will pay levy costs at the same time and in the same transaction as vehicle excise duty (VED). Payments will be collected by the DVLA.

VED has been reduced and, consequently, over 90% of HGVs will not see costs rise. The VED changes were announced by the Chancellor in the March 2013 Budget and have been made in the Finance Bill 2014.

UK Registered vehicles

Non-UK registered vehicles

Vehicles registered abroad must make levy payments before entering the UK (including Northern Ireland) and details about levy amounts are available (PDF, 900KB). The levy can be paid by day, week, month or year and discounts are available for longer levy periods.

Online payment of the HGV road user levy for operators completing journeys on UK roads is available now. The service also offers a ‘registered account’ and a ‘pay and go’ purchasing option.

‘Pay and go’ puchasing can also be completed:

by telephone
at a limited number of point of sale terminals on ferries and truck stops

The foreign operator payment system is operated by Northgate Public Services on behalf of the Department for Transport. Visiting HGV drivers and operators of HGVs registered outside of the UK can sign up for updates about how and where to pay levy. The latest update and previous bulletins are available along with a payment guide and frequently asked questions relating to the levy.

HGV drivers and operators should also take note that:

there is no physical sign of payment through the display of a paper disc, sticker or similar item
payment of the levy is recorded in a database using the vehicle registration as the unique identifier
a public web based database is available to allow anyone to check the levy status of an HGV by entering its registration number
the payment database enables authorities to identify and take necessary action where the levy has not been paid, or underpayment is suspected
failure to pay the levy is a criminal offence, attracting a £300 fixed penalty notice – or in the case of foreign HGVs, a deposit taken at the roadside
there are no caps to the value of daily, weekly and monthly levies that can be purchased for a specific vehicle

The levy follows a Department for Transport consultation on charging heavy goods vehicles in early 2012 with its response published in October 2012.