HGV operator licences

Who needs an operator's licence?

You need an operator’s licence to carry goods (or burden) connected with any trade or business if you “USE” a motor vehicle on a road with:

A gross plated weight of more than 3.5 tonnes; or
If it has no gross plated weight, an unladen weight of more than 1525kg

You need an operator’s licence even if you use a vehicle only for a short period, 2 or 3 weeks or even just one day.

Members can access more detailed advice on this subject. Click here.

To apply for a new licence you need to complete a Form GV79. This form is available from your Traffic Area Office (TAO). The completed form, with the application fee must be sent to the TAO in whose you have an “operating centre”

An operating centre is where your vehicles are normally kept when not in use. The operating centre should provide sufficient off street parking for all your vehicles and trailers. Operating centres must be specified on the licence.

You must advertise your application in a local newspaper so that objection can be made by anyone in the vicinity on environmental grounds.

You should apply at least 9 weeks before the date when the licence is needed. If you need to start operating urgently write to the TAO giving reasons why you want to operate urgently. The TAO may issue an interim licence, but only if you have applied for a full licence.

What changes were introduced into the UK on 4 December 2011?

As part of an EU-wide initiative, the rules governing operator's licences were changed across all member states on 4 December 2011. Under these changes, licence holders will no longer be allowed to informally borrow goods vehicles. Instead, licence holders will have to prove that they have one or more goods vehicles at their disposal. As a result, licence holders are required to prove that they have "access" to a goods vehicle, i.e. the licence holder must either own at least one goods vehicle or have in place a formal contract with a hire or lease company to use one when required. Licence holders who only require a goods vehicle at certain times of the year, e.g. seasonal users, will not be required to own or hire a vehicle throughout the whole year. Instead, the requirement can be satisfied by having a formal arrangement in place to hire a vehicle as and when required. Without such arrangements, operators who only need a vehicle on an ad-hoc basis will find that the Traffic Commissioner refuses to grant a licence.

To assist members in maximising this opportunity, the BVRLA has produced a template letter which can be used by licence holders to demonstrate that a formal agreement has been entered into. To obtain a copy of this letter or if you want more information on the changes to hte O licence, then please contact: Jay Parmar, legal and policy director, jay@bvrla.co.uk or 01494 545706.

How many vehicles should I apply for?

Your licence, if issued, will authorize you to use a maximum total number of motor vehicles and if applicable trailer, including semi-trailers.

How long does my licence last?

Your licence once issued is yours for life unless you operate outside the terms of your licence, surrenders it. Or fail to pay the requested fees to keep the licence live.

How many licences are necessary?

An operator may hold only one licence in each traffic area although this may specify several operating centres.

I am a registered charity do I need a licence?

Charities must hold an operators licence if they are held to be carrying on a business, for example if they run a regularly conducted commercial enterprise regardless of whether a profit is made.

If the charity is not operating a commercial enterprise, for example, scout groups using vehicles to transport equipment to camp you would not need an O-licence.

What if I don't apply for an Operators licence?

If you continue to carry goods and you do not have an O licence you risk the vehicle being siezed and impounded by VOSA. Members can access more information on impounding from this link: impounding of illegally operated goods vehicles

Criteria for obtaining a licence

Licence applicants have to meet a number of detailed requirements.

The criteria include fitness to hold a licence, maintenance arrangements, control of drivers’ hours, records and overloading, suitability of operating center and financial resources.

Standard national and international licence applicants must also show that they are of good repute, meet the professional competence requirements and satisfy more specific financial criteria.

Fitness & Good Repute

Both the applicant and any nominated professionally competent person, where this is not the same person, must be of good repute to hold a licence. The Traffic Commissioner (TC) must be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person and will take account of specified convictions during the previous five years concerning the operation of goods vehicles.

The below are good ways of demonstrating fitness and good repute:

holding a green certificate (GV203) issued by the TC before 1979 stating that the holder was in responsible transport employment under an ‘O’ licence before 1 January 1975 (known as grandfather rights); or
passing the Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC); or
holding certain diplomas and qualifications from professional institutes.