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 749 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 110 duties
Licensing Act 2003 2003 105 duties
Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 97 duties
Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 86 duties

Applicants also bound by 146 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 22 duties
Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 20 duties
Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 20 duties
Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 12 duties
Infrastructure Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017 2017 10 duties

Traders also bound by 219 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 952 duties
TULRCA 1992 1992 39 duties
Companies Act 2006 2006 39 duties
Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013 2013 39 duties
The Customs (Import Duty) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 2018 33 duties

Operators also bound by 125 other Acts (top 5 shown)

Space Industry Regulations 2021 2021 71 duties
Payment Services Regulations 2017 2017 41 duties
Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 34 duties
The Quarries Regulations 1999 1999 31 duties
Reservoirs Act (Northern Ireland) 2015 2015 22 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

s.sch001a

Detention of vehicles used without operator’s licence

Co‑operate with authorities when a goods vehicle is detained Trader

s.sch005

Large Goods Vehicles

Fine up to £2,500

Fail to carry or retain a consignment note Any Person

Browse 7 other Schedules — structural / supplementary

s.001

Meaning of “small goods vehicle”

s.003

Qualifications for standard licence

s.006

Transitional provisions, transitory modifications and savings

s.007

Consequential amendments

s.sch002

Information about, and convictions of, applicants for and holders of operators’ licences

s.sch004

Transfer of operating centres

s.sch008

Repeals and revocations

s.001

Functions of traffic commissioners.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Traffic commissioners must follow directions and guidance from the Senior Commissioner Statutory regulator

s.002

Obligation to hold operator’s licence.

Unlimited fine

Use goods vehicle without an operator’s licence Any Person

s.003

“Standard” and “restricted” licences.

Fine up to £500

Use a restricted licence to carry goods for hire or reward Any Person

s.006

Maximum numbers of vehicles.

Fine up to £2,500

Exceed maximum vehicles or trailers on licence Any Person

s.007

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

s.008

Applications for operators’ licences.

Apply for an operator’s licence for heavy or light goods vehicles Operator

s.009

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

s.010

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

s.013

Requirements for standard and restricted licences

Maintain vehicle safety and manage drivers’ hours for goods vehicle licences Applicant

s.013

Further requirement for standard and restricted licences

Demonstrate sufficient financial resources for vehicle maintenance Applicant

s.015

Issue of operators’ licences.

Unlimited fine

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Traffic Commissioner must issue goods vehicle operator licences Statutory regulator

s.021

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

s.022

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

s.023

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

s.027

Revocation of standard licences.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Traffic Commissioners must notify and allow time to fix licence issues Statutory regulator

s.028

Disqualification.

Fine up to £2,500

Apply for an operator’s licence while disqualified Any Person

s.029

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

s.034

Determinations as to environmental matters.

Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator

Traffic Commissioners must consider environmental impact of operating centres Statutory regulator

s.035

Power of traffic commissioners to hold inquiries.

Fine up to £2,500

Unauthorised disclosure of confidential inquiry information Any Person

s.038

Forgery of documents, etc.

2 years imprisonment

Forge, alter or use false operator licence documents Any Person

s.039

False statements.

Fine up to £2,500

Make false statements to obtain or vary an operator licence Any Person

s.040

Inspection of maintenance facilities.

Fine up to £1,000

Obstruct officer inspecting vehicle maintenance facilities Any Person

s.049

Certificates of qualification.

Obtain a certificate of qualification for international road transport Any Person

s.057

Regulations and orders.

Fine up to £200

Fail to comply with operator licence regulations Any Person

Browse 46 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement

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.

s.005

Vehicles authorised to be used under operator’s licence.

s.011

Publication in locality affected of notice of application for heavy goods vehicle licence.

s.012

Objections to, and representations against, issue of operators’ licences.

s.013

Determination of applications for operators’ licences

s.013

Requirements for standard licences

s.013

Requirements for restricted licences

s.014

Determinations where objections etc are made on environmental grounds.

s.016

Duration of operators’ licences.

s.017

Variation of operators’ licences.

s.018

Publication of notice of applications for variation of heavy goods vehicle licences in any locality affected.

s.019

Objection to, and refusal of, applications to vary heavy goods vehicle licences on environmental grounds.

s.020

Variation of licences: further provisions.

s.024

Interim operators’ licences.

s.025

Interim variations.

s.026

Revocation, suspension and curtailment of operators’ licences.

s.030

Periods of review for operating centres.

s.031

Power to remove operating centres on review.

s.032

Power to attach conditions on review.

s.033

Transfer of operating centres.

s.036

Review of decisions.

s.037

Rights of appeal in connection with operators’ licences.

s.041

Power to seize documents etc.

s.042

Meaning of “officer” and powers of police constables.

s.043

Evidence by certificate.

s.044

Assessors.

s.045

Fees.

s.046

Holding companies and subsidiaries.

s.047

Partnerships.

s.048

Operators’ licences not to be transferable etc.

s.050

Large goods vehicles.

s.051

Time for bringing proceedings.

s.052

Destination of fines: Scotland.

s.053

Method of calculating weight of motor vehicles.

s.054

Saving for law of nuisance.

s.055

Protection of public interests.

s.056

Secretary of State’s power to hold inquiries.

s.056

Traffic commissioner may have regard to international obligations

s.058

General interpretation.

s.059

Transitional provision etc.

s.060

Consequential amendments and repeals.

s.061

Commencement.

s.062

Short title and extent.

Read the full Act on legislation.gov.uk

Official guidance

Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.

Earned Recognition (opens in a new tab) 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) Detailed Guidance
International road haulage - cabotage and cross-trade in the EU (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
ECMT international road haulage permits (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
International authorisations and permits for road haulage (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Guide to maintaining roadworthiness (opens in a new tab) Publication
Appeal a Traffic Commissioner decision (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory guidance and directions (opens in a new tab) Publication
Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
... and 4 more

Enforcement and responsible bodies

The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.

DVSA

Primary

Driver 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

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. …

At a glance

Who this Act binds

Step-by-step journeys using this legislation

Relevant guidance

Direct — cites this Act

Supporting — topic alignment

Mentioned in related content

Other Acts binding the same actors

What this Act requires

Schedules

Official guidance

Enforcement and responsible bodies

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