The operators licence requirements are varied. If you need to operate goods vehicles within your business it's vital to know with absolute certainty whether you need an operators licence or not. To determine this, you can contact the DVSA directly, tell them of your circumstances and they will inform you of whether they think you need an operators licence.

Most goods vehicles with a gross plated weight of over 3.5 tonnes or, if there is no plated weight, an unladen weight of over 1525 kg require a goods vehicle operator's licence, if they are used to carry goods or burden of any description in connection with a trade or business, or for hire or reward. The requirement also applies to vehicles used for infrequent periods - such as one day.

Where the maximum permissible weight (including any trailer or semi - trailer) exceeds 3.5 tonnes, a tachograph is required. Maximum Permissible Weight can be taken to mean the sum of the maximum permissible gross weights of towing vehicle and trailer being towed or the maximum permissible train weight of the towing vehicle - whichever is the lesser.

For Restricted Operators Licences £3,100 for your first vehicle, £1,700 for each vehicle thereafter. Standard National & International Licences £8,000 for the first vehicle and thereafter £4,450 per vehicle. The figures for Standard National & International are changing as of 1st January 2021. £8,200 & £4,550 for additional vehicles.