UK Act of Parliament 1995 United Kingdom

Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995

An Act to consolidate Part V of the Transport Act 1968 and related provisions concerning the licensing of operators of certain goods vehicles.

Read the Act on legislation.gov.uk (opens in a new tab)
Status
Amended (in force with amendments)
Penalty ceiling
Imprisonment 9 of 44 obligations carry a fine up to £2,500. 13 carry different penalties and 22 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.

Does it bind you?

Business-side roles with duties under this instrument.

Any Person23 Operator4 Applicant2 Trader2

Plus 13 duties on the regulator, Crown ministers and public bodies — folded into the section list below.

Other Acts binding the same actors

If a role above is yours, these are the other instruments that most often bind it.

Any Person — also bound by 2340 other Acts
Operator — also bound by 746 other Acts
Applicant — also bound by 307 other Acts
Trader — also bound by 825 other Acts
Companies Act 2006 243 duties
Companies Act 1985 85 duties

What it requires

Sections creating concrete business duties or carrying penalties, grouped as the instrument is structured. Titles link to the source text — blue means you’re leaving for legislation.gov.uk.

s.001 Functions of traffic commissioners. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic commissioners must follow directions and guidance from the Senior CommissionerStatutory regulator
s.002 Obligation to hold operator’s licence. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Use goods vehicle without an operator’s licenceAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.003 “Standard” and “restricted” licences. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Use a restricted licence to carry goods for hire or rewardAny Person

Fine up to £500

s.006 Maximum numbers of vehicles. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Exceed maximum vehicles or trailers on licenceAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.007 Operating centres to be specified in heavy goods vehicle licences. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Use operating centre not listed on HGV licenceAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.008 Applications for operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Apply for an operator’s licence for heavy or light goods vehiclesOperator
s.009 Convictions etc. subsequent to the making of an application. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to notify traffic commissioner of conviction after licence applicationAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.010 Publication by traffic commissioner of notice of application for licence. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioner must publish notice of your licence applicationStatutory regulator
s.013 Requirements for standard and restricted licences Regulated
  • Maintain vehicle safety and manage drivers’ hours for goods vehicle licencesApplicant
s.013 Further requirement for standard and restricted licences Regulated
  • Demonstrate sufficient financial resources for vehicle maintenanceApplicant
s.015 Issue of operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioner must issue goods vehicle operator licencesStatutory regulator

Unlimited fine

s.021 Conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licences for securing road safety. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Breach conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licenceAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.022 Conditions attached to operators’ licences as to matters required to be notified to traffic commissioner. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to notify traffic commissioner of licence‑related changesAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.023 Conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licences as to use of operating centres. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Breach conditions on heavy goods vehicle licenceAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.027 Revocation of standard licences. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioners must notify and allow time to fix licence issuesStatutory regulator
s.028 Disqualification. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Apply for an operator’s licence while disqualifiedAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.029 Revocation and disqualification etc: supplementary provisions. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioner must hold an inquiry if requested by a license holderStatutory regulator
s.034 Determinations as to environmental matters. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic Commissioners must consider environmental impact of operating centresStatutory regulator
s.035 Power of traffic commissioners to hold inquiries. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Unauthorised disclosure of confidential inquiry informationAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.038 Forgery of documents, etc. (opens in a new tab) Imprisonment
  • Forge, alter or use false operator licence documentsAny Person
s.039 False statements. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Make false statements to obtain or vary an operator licenceAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.040 Inspection of maintenance facilities. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Obstruct officer inspecting vehicle maintenance facilitiesAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.049 Certificates of qualification. (opens in a new tab) Regulated
  • Obtain a certificate of qualification for international road transportAny Person
s.057 Regulations and orders. (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to comply with operator licence regulationsAny Person

Fine up to £200

46 other provisions — procedural and definitional
s.002 Detention of vehicle used without operator’s licence.
s.002 Power to stop
s.003 Temporary exemptions for international operators
s.004 Other Temporary exemptions. (opens in a new tab)
s.005 Vehicles authorised to be used under operator’s licence. (opens in a new tab)
s.011 Publication in locality affected of notice of application for heavy goods vehicle licence. (opens in a new tab)
s.012 Objections to, and representations against, issue of operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.013 Determination of applications for operators’ licences (opens in a new tab)
s.013 Requirements for standard licences
s.013 Requirements for restricted licences
s.014 Determinations where objections etc are made on environmental grounds. (opens in a new tab)
s.016 Duration of operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.017 Variation of operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.018 Publication of notice of applications for variation of heavy goods vehicle licences in any locality affected. (opens in a new tab)
s.019 Objection to, and refusal of, applications to vary heavy goods vehicle licences on environmental grounds. (opens in a new tab)
s.020 Variation of licences: further provisions. (opens in a new tab)
s.024 Interim operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.025 Interim variations. (opens in a new tab)
s.026 Revocation, suspension and curtailment of operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.030 Periods of review for operating centres. (opens in a new tab)
s.031 Power to remove operating centres on review. (opens in a new tab)
s.032 Power to attach conditions on review. (opens in a new tab)
s.033 Transfer of operating centres. (opens in a new tab)
s.036 Review of decisions. (opens in a new tab)
s.037 Rights of appeal in connection with operators’ licences. (opens in a new tab)
s.041 Power to seize documents etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.042 Meaning of “officer” and powers of police constables. (opens in a new tab)
s.043 Evidence by certificate. (opens in a new tab)
s.044 Assessors. (opens in a new tab)
s.045 Fees. (opens in a new tab)
s.046 Holding companies and subsidiaries. (opens in a new tab)
s.047 Partnerships. (opens in a new tab)
s.048 Operators’ licences not to be transferable etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.050 Large goods vehicles. (opens in a new tab)
s.051 Time for bringing proceedings. (opens in a new tab)
s.052 Destination of fines: Scotland. (opens in a new tab)
s.053 Method of calculating weight of motor vehicles. (opens in a new tab)
s.054 Saving for law of nuisance. (opens in a new tab)
s.055 Protection of public interests. (opens in a new tab)
s.056 Secretary of State’s power to hold inquiries. (opens in a new tab)
s.056 Traffic commissioner may have regard to international obligations
s.058 General interpretation. (opens in a new tab)
s.059 Transitional provision etc. (opens in a new tab)
s.060 Consequential amendments and repeals. (opens in a new tab)
s.061 Commencement. (opens in a new tab)
s.062 Short title and extent. (opens in a new tab)
Schedules

Schedules

20 of 108 shown
s.sch001a Detention of vehicles used without operator’s licence Regulated
  • Co‑operate with authorities when a goods vehicle is detainedTrader
s.sch001a (1) Regulations shall make provision— (a) enabling a traffic commissioner... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic commissioner must hold a hearing when vehicle owner requests itTribunal / Court
s.sch001a (1) Regulations shall provide for an appeal to the Upper... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulations must provide for an appeal to the Upper Tribunal against a traffic commissioner's decisionCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch001a Regulations shall provide that, subject to the powers of a... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Safeguard property seized under goods vehicle operator licensingStatutory regulator
s.sch001a (1) Regulations shall provide for the proceeds of sale of... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Regulations must specify how proceeds of sale cover expenses and allow owner claimsCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch001a Regulations may provide that a person who intentionally obstructs an... Prosecution
  • Intentionally obstruct an authorised personAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch001a (1) Regulations may provide that where— (a) a person makes... Prosecution
  • Make a false declaration to get a vehicle returnedAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch001a (1) Regulations may provide that a person who, without being... Prosecution
  • Remove an immobilisation device from a goods vehicle without authorisationAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch001a (1) Regulations shall make provision enabling the owner of a... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Government must make regulations for owners to apply for return of detained goods vehiclesCrown / Minister / Government department
s.sch002 The offences are— (a) an offence under section 53 of... Prosecution
  • List of offences affecting goods vehicle operatorsAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch003 (1) A transport manager must be— (a) a resident of... Regulated
  • Ensure transport manager meets legal requirementsOperator
s.sch003 Without prejudice to the generality of a traffic commissioner’s power... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic commissioner must decide convicted individuals are not of good reputeStatutory regulator
s.sch003 (1) An operator has appropriate financial standing under section 13A(2)(c)... Regulated
  • Maintain minimum financial standing for goods vehicle operator licenceOperator
s.sch005 Large Goods Vehicles (opens in a new tab) Prosecution
  • Fail to carry or retain a consignment noteAny Person

Fine up to £2,500

s.sch005 (1) Subject to sub-paragraph (2), no goods shall be carried... Prosecution
  • Carry goods without a consignment note or fail to keep itAny Person

Unlimited fine

s.sch005 (1) An officer may require any person to produce and... Prosecution
  • Fail to produce documents or obstruct DVSA inspectionAny Person

Fine up to £1,000

s.sch005 (1) Any person who— (a) makes, or causes to be... Regulated
  • Make or alter false documents required for goods vehicle operationsAny Person
s.sch006 An individual (or person) who applies for an exemption must... Regulated
  • Provide management experience evidence when applying for an exemptionTrader
s.sch006 Despite paragraph 13 of Schedule 3, a traffic commissioner must... Regulated
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
  • Traffic commissioner must accept exempt individuals as competent until 20 May 2025Statutory regulator
s.sch007 In section 232 of the Road Traffic Act 1960 (duty... Regulated
  • Provide driver identity information for goods vehicle licensing offencesOperator
88 other schedules
s.001 Meaning of “small goods vehicle” (opens in a new tab)
s.003 Qualifications for standard licence (opens in a new tab)
s.006 Transitional provisions, transitory modifications and savings (opens in a new tab)
s.007 Consequential amendments (opens in a new tab)
s.sch001 For the purposes of section 2 a small goods vehicle...
s.sch001 A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if the vehicle,...
s.sch001 A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if it does...
s.sch001 (1) A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if it...
s.sch001 A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if it forms...
s.sch001 In any provision of paragraphs 2 to 4 “relevant plated...
s.sch001a (1) In this Schedule— “ authorised person ” means— an...
s.sch001a Regulations may provide that, if no application is made to...
s.sch001a (1) Regulations may provide that the person specified in a...
s.sch001a (1) Regulations may make provision about the proceedings to be...
s.sch001a A goods vehicle falls within this paragraph if the vehicle,...
s.sch001a (1) Regulations may provide that where an authorised person has...
s.sch001a Regulations may make provision with respect to property detained by...
s.sch001a (1) Regulations may provide that an authorised person may, before...
s.sch001a (1) Regulations may make provision for an authorised person to...
s.sch001a (1) Regulations may make provision for informing persons who may...
s.sch001a Regulations may make provision authorising a vehicle detained by virtue...
s.sch002 Information about, and convictions of, applicants for and holders of operators’ licences (opens in a new tab)
s.sch002 The information referred to in section 8(4) is the following—...
s.sch002 In this Schedule “relevant person” means any of the following...
s.sch002 In paragraph 1(e) “relevant activities” means any of the following—...
s.sch002 The following are “notifiable convictions”, namely— (a) any conviction of...
s.sch002 (1) In paragraph 5 any reference to an offence under...
s.sch002 Notifiable fixed penalty notices
s.sch003 (1) In determining whether an individual is of good repute,...
s.sch003 Where the holder of a standard licence relies on a...
s.sch003 Where— (a) the holder of a standard licence is a...
s.sch003 Paragraphs 1 to 5 shall have effect for the purposes...
s.sch003 (1) An individual shall be regarded as professionally competent if,...
s.sch003 Qualifications for standard licence
s.sch003 (1) A traffic commissioner shall not in any proceedings under...
s.sch003 (1) In proceedings under this Act or the 2009 Regulation...
s.sch003 (1) A traffic commissioner may, subject to sub-paragraphs (1A) and...
s.sch003 (1) A person has a conviction of a “serious offence”...
s.sch003 “Road transport offence” means— (a) an offence under the law...
s.sch003 (1) In paragraph 1(3)(a) the reference to an offence mentioned...
s.sch003 (1) An applicant for, or the holder of, a standard...
s.sch003 In this Schedule references to “ the requirement of professional...
s.sch003 (1) The requirement of professional competence falls to be satisfied...
s.sch003 Where an individual is not himself professionally competent, he shall...
s.sch003 (1) A person has an effective and stable establishment in...
s.sch004 Transfer of operating centres (opens in a new tab)
s.sch004 (1) Where in the case of any application for a...
s.sch004 (1) The provisions of this paragraph have effect in relation...
s.sch004 (1) Where in the case of an application for the...
s.sch004 (1) The provisions of this paragraph have effect in relation...
s.sch004 In this Schedule “the traffic commissioner”, in the case of...
s.sch005 (1) For the purposes of this Schedule, a large goods...
s.sch005 (1) The following amendments shall take effect on the day...
s.sch006 The substitution of this Act for the provisions repealed and...
s.sch006 For the purposes of this Act and the 2009 Regulation...
s.sch006 Paragraphs 12 to 18 apply for the purposes of applying...
s.sch006 The Secretary of State may exempt an individual until the...
s.sch006 An individual, or a person acting on behalf of an...
s.sch006 The Secretary of State may, beginning with the day after...
s.sch006 If the Secretary of State decides not to grant an...
s.sch006 A traffic commissioner may consider as part of deciding an...
s.sch006 Paragraphs 11 to 18 and this paragraph expire at the...
s.sch006 In so far as any thing done (including any subordinate...
s.sch006 Any reference (express or implied) in this Act or any...
s.sch006 Any reference (express or implied) in any enactment, instrument or...
s.sch006 Paragraphs 1 to 4 have effect, in relation to the...
s.sch006 In section 12(12), in the definition of the expression “local...
s.sch006 For the purposes of this Act as it applies in...
s.sch006 In paragraphs 9 and 10, “ the commencement date ”...
s.sch006 For the purposes of this Act, beginning with 17th March...
s.sch007 In Schedule 4 to the Transport Act 1985 (constitution, powers...
s.sch007 In section 66A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (appointment...
s.sch007 (1) In section 73 of that Act (provisions supplementary to...
s.sch007 In section 85 of that Act (interpretation of Part II),...
s.sch007 In section 86 of that Act (index of defined expressions),...
s.sch007 In section 244 of that Act (time for bringing summary...
s.sch007 In section 51 of the Transport Act 1968 (subsidiaries and...
s.sch007 In section 158 of that Act (inquiries), in subsection (1),...
s.sch007 (1) In section 4 of the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles)...
s.sch007 In Schedule 2 to that Act (provisions relating to vehicles...
s.sch007 In section 1 of the International Road Haulage Permits Act...
s.sch007 In section 8 of the Transport Act 1982 (private-sector vehicle...
s.sch007 In section 62 of the London Regional Transport Act 1984...
s.sch008 Repeals and revocations (opens in a new tab)
s.sch008 Notes:
s.sch008 The following abbreviations are used in the Table:— Acts of...
s.sch008 The Table does not separately acknowledge the provisions in the...
s.sch008 The functions originally vested in the Minister of Transport by...

Help complying

Guvnor’s practical routes through this instrument.

Start a transport and logistics business

Launch a transport or haulage business with the right operator licence

What to do when stopped by DVSA at the roadside

How to handle a DVSA roadside inspection, what examiners check, your rights during the stop, prohibition powers, and what to do afterwards …

Goods vehicle compliance quick check

Quick compliance check across all goods vehicle operator obligations

Responding to DVSA enforcement or Traffic Commissioner action

What to do if your transport business faces DVSA enforcement action or a Traffic Commissioner public inquiry. Covers understanding your OCRS score, …

Growing your goods vehicle fleet

What changes when you grow your goods vehicle fleet, from O-licence variations to OCRS scrutiny

Getting started with international road haulage

Upgrade your domestic haulage operation for international road freight

DVSA Enforcement and Your Operator Compliance Risk Score

Understand how DVSA uses the Operator Compliance Risk Score to target enforcement, what Green, Amber and Red ratings mean for your business, …

Facing a Traffic Commissioner Public Inquiry

What triggers a Traffic Commissioner public inquiry, how to prepare your case, whether you need legal representation, what outcomes to expect, and …

Get an operator's licence for goods vehicles

How to apply for an O-licence to operate goods vehicles for business. Covers Standard and Restricted licences, fees, financial standing, transport manager …

Goods Vehicle Operator Compliance Checklist

A yes/no audit checklist covering all key goods vehicle operator obligations including O-licence conditions, vehicle maintenance, drivers, tachographs, and load compliance.

International Road Haulage Permits and Cabotage

How to comply with post-Brexit international haulage rules including TCA permit-free access, ECMT permits for non-EU countries, cabotage and cross-trade limits, and …

Vehicle Maintenance and MOT

Understand vehicle maintenance standards and MOT requirements for goods vehicles.
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Duty extraction and severity labels are Guvnor’s analysis of the instrument, not the instrument itself. Always verify against the linked source text.