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Information about becoming a goods vehicle operator, getting a goods vehicle licence and complying with regulations

• Overview

  You need a goods vehicle operator’s licence if your business uses goods…

• Types of licence

  There are 3 different types of operator’s licence for goods vehicles. The…

• Apply for a licence

  The goods vehicle operator licensing scheme is administered by the Driver…

• Fees for goods vehicle licences

  When applying for a goods vehicle operator’s licence, you’ll have to pay:…

• Operating centres

  Your operating centre is where your vehicles are normally kept when not in…

• Maintaining your vehicles

  You must keep your vehicles safe and in good condition at all times.…

• Employing or using drivers

  If you employ or give work to drivers, you must check that they have the…

• Make changes to your licence

  You can make changes to your goods vehicle operator’s licence once you…

• What happens if you break the terms of your licence

  The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency carries out regular roadside…

• Exemptions

  You do not need a goods vehicle operator’s licence if your vehicle: was…

You can use this account to view your driving record, check details of vehicles and set up vehicle tax reminders with DVLA.

Being stopped by the police or DVSA - fixed penalties, roadside prohibitions, driving without an operator's licence, immobilisation and impounding.

• Checks on your vehicle

  As a commercial driver, you might be asked to stop by the police or a…

• Making sure your vehicle is roadworthy

  You’re responsible for maintaining the roadworthiness of your vehicle.…

• Roadside prohibitions

  A prohibition can prevent you from driving until you get a problem with…

• Driving without a valid operator's licence

  You need a valid operator’s licence if you drive the following for any…

• Fines, penalty points and other sanctions

  If you get a fine from a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)…

• What happens if your vehicle is immobilised

  Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) officers and police officers…

We’re the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), maintaining nearly 53 million driver records and more than 47 million vehicle records. Last year (2024 to 2025), we collected £8.4 billion in Vehicle Excise Duty (VED). DVLA is an executive agency,...

• Updated: 11 October 2023

Find out if you need the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification to drive a lorry, bus or coach, or if you could be exempt.

• Updated: 24 July 2020

Qualify as an HGV or bus driver, requalify if you used to drive an HGV or bus, get a provisional licence, take the Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) tests.

Check what type of drivers' hours rules you need to follow if you drive a goods vehicle or a bus or coach.

How you can train to drive a heavy goods vehicle (HGV): Skills Bootcamps, apprenticeships, vocational courses and driving schools.

How to qualify as a dangerous goods driver, choosing what training you need, finding a training provider, getting and keeping your ADR card up to date, replacing a card, staying qualified and adding substance classes to your ADR card.

HGV driver vacancies statistics on the number of businesses reporting vacancies, the impact on deliveries and financial incentives.

• Updated: 16 November 2023