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UK Act of Parliament
1995
United Kingdom
Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
42 compliance obligations, 11 practical guides across 2 topics · 6 journeys
Penalty landscape
9 of 42 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 13 carry different penalties and 20 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 24
- Operator 3
- Applicant 2
- Trader 2
Plus 11 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Step-by-step journeys using this legislation
Walkthroughs that take you from a real business situation to compliance.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Direct — cites this Act
6 guidesSupporting — topic alignment
3 guidesMentioned in related content
2 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Operators also bound by 730 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Regulation (EU) No 965/2012 (Air Operations) 2012 138 duties
- Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2018/2066 of 19 December 2018 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and amending Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 (Text with EEA relevance) 2018 121 duties
- Commission Regulation (EU) No 601/2012 of 21 June 2012 on the monitoring and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council (Text with EEA relevance) (repealed) 2012 112 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 75 duties
- Regulation (EU) 2016/429 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2016 on transmissible animal diseases and amending and repealing certain acts in the area of animal health (‘Animal Health Law’) (Text with EEA relevance) 2016 66 duties
Applicants also bound by 294 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 46 duties
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 30 duties
- The Land Registration Rules 2003 2003 25 duties
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 18 duties
- Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 14 duties
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
What this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Detention of vehicles used without operator’s licence
- Co‑operate with authorities when a goods vehicle is detained Trader
(1) Regulations shall make provision— (a) enabling a traffic commissioner...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic commissioner must hold a hearing when vehicle owner requests it Tribunal / Court
(1) Regulations shall provide for an appeal to the Upper...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulations must provide for an appeal to the Upper Tribunal against a traffic commissioner's decision Crown / Minister / Government department
Regulations shall provide that, subject to the powers of a...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Safeguard property seized under goods vehicle operator licensing Statutory regulator
(1) Regulations shall provide for the proceeds of sale of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulations must specify how proceeds of sale cover expenses and allow owner claims Crown / Minister / Government department
Regulations may provide that a person who intentionally obstructs an...
Fine up to £1,000- Intentionally obstruct an authorised person Any Person
(1) Regulations may provide that where— (a) a person makes...
Unlimited fine- Make a false declaration to get a vehicle returned Any Person
(1) Regulations may provide that a person who, without being...
Fine up to £1,000- Remove an immobilisation device from a goods vehicle without authorisation Any Person
(1) Regulations shall make provision enabling the owner of a...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Government must make regulations for owners to apply for return of detained goods vehicles Crown / Minister / Government department
The offences are— (a) an offence under section 53 of...
Unlimited fine- List of offences affecting goods vehicle operators Any Person
(1) A transport manager must be— (a) a resident of...
- Ensure transport manager meets legal requirements Operator
(1) An operator has appropriate financial standing under section 13A(2)(c)...
- Maintain minimum financial standing for goods vehicle operator licence Operator
Large Goods Vehicles
Fine up to £2,500- Fail to carry or retain a consignment note Any Person
(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), no goods shall be carried...
Unlimited fine- Carry goods without a consignment note or fail to keep it Any Person
(1) An officer may require any person to produce and...
Fine up to £1,000- Fail to produce documents or obstruct DVSA inspection Any Person
(1) Any person who— (a) makes, or causes to be...
- Make or alter false documents required for goods vehicle operations Any Person
An individual (or person) who applies for an exemption must...
- Provide management experience evidence when applying for an exemption Trader
In section 232 of the Road Traffic Act 1960 (duty...
- Provide driver identity information for goods vehicle licensing offences Any Person
Browse 90 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
Meaning of “small goods vehicle”
Qualifications for standard licence
Transitional provisions, transitory modifications and savings
Consequential amendments
For the purposes of section 2 a small goods vehicle...
A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if the vehicle,...
A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if it does...
(1) A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if it...
A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if it forms...
In any provision of paragraphs 2 to 4 “relevant plated...
(1) In this Schedule— “ authorised person ” means— an...
Regulations may provide that, if no application is made to...
(1) Regulations may provide that the person specified in a...
(1) Regulations may make provision about the proceedings to be...
A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if the vehicle,...
(1) Regulations may provide that where an authorised person has...
Regulations may make provision with respect to property detained by...
(1) Regulations may provide that an authorised person may, before...
(1) Regulations may make provision for an authorised person to...
(1) Regulations may make provision for informing persons who may...
Regulations may make provision authorising a vehicle detained by virtue...
Information about, and convictions of, applicants for and holders of operators’ licences
The information referred to in section 8(4) is the following—...
In this Schedule “relevant person” means any of the following...
In paragraph 1(e) “relevant activities” means any of the following—...
The following are “notifiable convictions”, namely— (a) any conviction of...
(1) In paragraph 5 any reference to an offence under...
Notifiable fixed penalty notices
(1) In determining whether an individual is of good repute,...
Where the holder of a standard licence relies on a...
Where— (a) the holder of a standard licence is a...
Paragraphs 1 to 5 shall have effect for the purposes...
(1) An individual shall be regarded as professionally competent if,...
Qualifications for standard licence
(1) A traffic commissioner shall not in any proceedings under...
(1) In proceedings under this Act or the 2009 Regulation...
(1) A traffic commissioner may, subject to sub-paragraphs (1A) and...
Without prejudice to the generality of a traffic commissioner’s power...
(1) A person has a conviction of a “serious offence”...
“Road transport offence” means— (a) an offence under the law...
(1) In paragraph 1(3)(a) the reference to an offence mentioned...
(1) An applicant for, or the holder of, a standard...
In this Schedule references to “ the requirement of professional...
(1) The requirement of professional competence falls to be satisfied...
Where an individual is not himself professionally competent, he shall...
(1) A person has an effective and stable establishment in...
Transfer of operating centres
(1) Where in the case of any application for a...
(1) The provisions of this paragraph have effect in relation...
(1) Where in the case of an application for the...
(1) The provisions of this paragraph have effect in relation...
In this Schedule “the traffic commissioner”, in the case of...
(1) For the purposes of this Schedule, a large goods...
(1) The following amendments shall take effect on the day...
The substitution of this Act for the provisions repealed and...
For the purposes of this Act and the 2009 Regulation...
Paragraphs 12 to 18 apply for the purposes of applying...
The Secretary of State may exempt an individual until the...
An individual, or a person acting on behalf of an...
The Secretary of State may, beginning with the day after...
If the Secretary of State decides not to grant an...
A traffic commissioner may consider as part of deciding an...
Despite paragraph 13 of Schedule 3, a traffic commissioner must...
Paragraphs 11 to 18 and this paragraph expire at the...
In so far as any thing done (including any subordinate...
Any reference (express or implied) in this Act or any...
Any reference (express or implied) in any enactment, instrument or...
Paragraphs 1 to 4 have effect, in relation to the...
In section 12(12), in the definition of the expression “local...
For the purposes of this Act as it applies in...
In paragraphs 9 and 10, “ the commencement date ”...
For the purposes of this Act, beginning with 17th March...
In Schedule 4 to the Transport Act 1985 (constitution, powers...
In section 66A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (appointment...
(1) In section 73 of that Act (provisions supplementary to...
In section 85 of that Act (interpretation of Part II),...
In section 86 of that Act (index of defined expressions),...
In section 244 of that Act (time for bringing summary...
In section 51 of the Transport Act 1968 (subsidiaries and...
In section 158 of that Act (inquiries), in subsection (1),...
(1) In section 4 of the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles)...
In Schedule 2 to that Act (provisions relating to vehicles...
In section 1 of the International Road Haulage Permits Act...
In section 8 of the Transport Act 1982 (private-sector vehicle...
In section 62 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984...
Repeals and revocations
Notes:
The following abbreviations are used in the Table:— Acts of...
The Table does not separately acknowledge the provisions in the...
The functions originally vested in the Minister of Transport by...
Functions of traffic commissioners.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic commissioners must follow directions and guidance from the Senior Commissioner Statutory regulator
Obligation to hold operator’s licence.
Unlimited fine- Use goods vehicle without an operator’s licence Any Person
“Standard” and “restricted” licences.
Fine up to £500- Use a restricted licence to carry goods for hire or reward Any Person
Maximum numbers of vehicles.
Fine up to £2,500- Exceed maximum vehicles or trailers on licence Any Person
Operating centres to be specified in heavy goods vehicle licences.
Fine up to £2,500- Use operating centre not listed on HGV licence Any Person
Applications for operators’ licences.
- Apply for an operator’s licence for heavy or light goods vehicles Operator
Convictions etc. subsequent to the making of an application.
Fine up to £2,500- Fail to notify traffic commissioner of conviction after licence application Any Person
Publication by traffic commissioner of notice of application for licence.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic Commissioner must publish notice of your licence application Statutory regulator
Requirements for standard and restricted licences
- Maintain vehicle safety and manage drivers’ hours for goods vehicle licences Applicant
Further requirement for standard and restricted licences
- Demonstrate sufficient financial resources for vehicle maintenance Applicant
Issue of operators’ licences.
Unlimited fineOther duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic Commissioner must issue goods vehicle operator licences Statutory regulator
Conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licences for securing road safety.
Fine up to £2,500- Breach conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licence Any Person
Conditions attached to operators’ licences as to matters required to be notified to traffic commissioner.
Unlimited fine- Fail to notify traffic commissioner of licence‑related changes Any Person
Conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licences as to use of operating centres.
Fine up to £2,500- Breach conditions on heavy goods vehicle licence Any Person
Revocation of standard licences.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic Commissioners must notify and allow time to fix licence issues Statutory regulator
Disqualification.
Fine up to £2,500- Apply for an operator’s licence while disqualified Any Person
Revocation and disqualification etc: supplementary provisions.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic Commissioner must hold an inquiry if requested by a license holder Statutory regulator
Determinations as to environmental matters.
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic Commissioners must consider environmental impact of operating centres Statutory regulator
Power of traffic commissioners to hold inquiries.
Fine up to £2,500- Unauthorised disclosure of confidential inquiry information Any Person
Forgery of documents, etc.
2 years imprisonment- Forge, alter or use false operator licence documents Any Person
False statements.
Fine up to £2,500- Make false statements to obtain or vary an operator licence Any Person
Inspection of maintenance facilities.
Fine up to £1,000- Obstruct officer inspecting vehicle maintenance facilities Any Person
Certificates of qualification.
- Obtain a certificate of qualification for international road transport Any Person
Regulations and orders.
Fine up to £200- Fail to comply with operator licence regulations Any Person
Browse 46 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Detention of vehicle used without operator’s licence.
Power to stop
Temporary exemptions for international operators
Other Temporary exemptions.
Vehicles authorised to be used under operator’s licence.
Publication in locality affected of notice of application for heavy goods vehicle licence.
Objections to, and representations against, issue of operators’ licences.
Determination of applications for operators’ licences
Requirements for standard licences
Requirements for restricted licences
Determinations where objections etc are made on environmental grounds.
Duration of operators’ licences.
Variation of operators’ licences.
Publication of notice of applications for variation of heavy goods vehicle licences in any locality affected.
Objection to, and refusal of, applications to vary heavy goods vehicle licences on environmental grounds.
Variation of licences: further provisions.
Interim operators’ licences.
Interim variations.
Revocation, suspension and curtailment of operators’ licences.
Periods of review for operating centres.
Power to remove operating centres on review.
Power to attach conditions on review.
Transfer of operating centres.
Review of decisions.
Rights of appeal in connection with operators’ licences.
Power to seize documents etc.
Meaning of “officer” and powers of police constables.
Evidence by certificate.
Assessors.
Fees.
Holding companies and subsidiaries.
Partnerships.
Operators’ licences not to be transferable etc.
Large goods vehicles.
Time for bringing proceedings.
Destination of fines: Scotland.
Method of calculating weight of motor vehicles.
Saving for law of nuisance.
Protection of public interests.
Secretary of State’s power to hold inquiries.
Traffic commissioner may have regard to international obligations
General interpretation.
Transitional provision etc.
Consequential amendments and repeals.
Commencement.
Short title and extent.
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Goods vehicle operator licensing guide (opens in a new tab) from Traffic Commissioners Detailed Guidance
- Earned Recognition (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Detailed Guidance
- Ofcom: postal regulation (opens in a new tab) from Ofcom Detailed Guidance
- Transport goods out of the UK by road - step by step (opens in a new tab) from DfT Detailed Guidance
- International road haulage - cabotage and cross-trade in the EU (opens in a new tab) from DfT Detailed Guidance
- ECMT international road haulage permits (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Detailed Guidance
- International authorisations and permits for road haulage (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Detailed Guidance
- Guide to maintaining roadworthiness (opens in a new tab) from DVSA Publication
- Appeal a Traffic Commissioner decision (opens in a new tab) from HMCTS Detailed Guidance
- Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory guidance and directions (opens in a new tab) from Traffic Commissioners Publication
- ... and 4 more
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
DVSA
PrimaryDriver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Regulates drivers, vehicles, and operators in UK road transport. Issues operator licences for goods vehicles (HGVs) and PSVs. Enforces roadworthiness and driver …
Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
Independent regulators responsible for licensing and regulating operators of heavy goods vehicles, public service vehicles (buses and coaches), and local bus services. …
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Regulators
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