OpenLegislation

Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995

1995 c. 23 · Enacted 19 July 1995 · Extends to England, Wales and Scotland

Not fully up to date. 9 changes made by later legislation have not yet been written into this text, which is revised to 1 November 2025.

See the changes not yet applied
ProvisionChangeMade by
s. 12(12)words omittedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 300(a)
s. 12(12)words insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 300(b)
s. 14(3)(b)(ia)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 301
s. 19(7)(b)(ia)insertedPlanning (Consequential Provisions) (Wales) Act 2026 Sch. 2 para. 302
s. 38(2)(c)insertedGoods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 Sch. 5 para. 5(1)
s. 41(1)(2)(b)insertedGoods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 Sch. 5 para. 5(2)
s. 42(1)(b)insertedGoods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 Sch. 5 para. 5(1)
s. 5(6)(6A)substituted for s. 5(6)Transport Act 2000 s. 263
Sch. 3 para. 3(2)(a)words substitutedCriminal Justice Act 2003 Sch. 32 para. 68(2)

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

[19th July 1995]

Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—E1C1C2C3C4C5

Annotations to the whole text

Modifications

C1

Act modified (1.1.1996) by S.I. 1995/2181, art. 3, Sch. para. 12(1)

C2

Act applied (with modifications) (26.9.1996) by S.I. 1996/2186, reg. 31(1)(2), Sch. 6 Pts. I, II

C3

Act: transfer of functions (1.9.2009) by Transfer of Functions (Transport Tribunal and Appeal Panel) Order 2009 (S.I. 2009/1885), arts. 1(1), 2(3)

C4

Act modified by S.I. 1995/2869, reg. 30(3), Sch. 2 (as amended (5.10.2017) by The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/874), regs. 1(1), 9)

C5

Act modified by S.I. 1995/2869, reg. 33A, Sch. 3A Pt. 1 (as inserted (1.10.2023) by The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) (Exemptions and Modifications) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/805), regs. 1, 6, 8) (as amended (19.8.2024) by S.I. 2024/830, regs. 1(1), 2(3))

Extent

E1

Act does not extend to Northern Ireland,see s. 62(3), but the amendments specified in Sch. 7 and the repeals and revocations specified in Sch. 8 have the same extent as the enactments and instruments to which they relate, see s. 62(2)

Contents

  1. Functions of traffic commissioners
  2. 1Functions of traffic commissioners.
  3. Operators’ licences
  4. 2Obligation to hold operator’s licence.
  5. 2ADetention of vehicle used without operator’s licence.
  6. 2BPower to stop
  7. 3“Standard” and “restricted” licences.
  8. 3ATemporary exemptions for international operators
  9. 4Other Temporary exemptions.
  10. Vehicles authorised to be used under a licence
  11. 5Vehicles authorised to be used under operator’s licence.
  12. 6Maximum numbers of vehicles.
  13. Operating centres
  14. 7Operating centres to be specified in heavy goods vehicle licences.
  15. Applications for licences
  16. 8Applications for operators’ licences.
  17. 9Convictions etc. subsequent to the making of an application.
  18. 10Publication by traffic commissioner of notice of application for licence.
  19. 11Publication in locality affected of notice of application for heavy goods vehicle licence.
  20. 12Objections to, and representations against, issue of operators’ licences.
  21. Determination of applications
  22. 13Determination of applications for operators’ licences
  23. 13ARequirements for standard licences
  24. 13BRequirements for restricted licences
  25. 13CRequirements for standard and restricted licences
  26. 13DFurther requirement for standard and restricted licences
  27. 14Determinations where objections etc are made on environmental grounds.
  28. 15Issue of operators’ licences.
  29. 16Duration of operators’ licences.
  30. Variation of licences
  31. 17Variation of operators’ licences.
  32. 18Publication of notice of applications for variation of heavy goods vehicle licences in any locality affected.
  33. 19Objection to, and refusal of, applications to vary heavy goods vehicle licences on environmental grounds.
  34. 20Variation of licences: further provisions.
  35. Conditions attached to licences
  36. 21Conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licences for securing road safety.
  37. 22Conditions attached to operators’ licences as to matters required to be notified to traffic commissioner.
  38. 23Conditions attached to heavy goods vehicle licences as to use of operating centres.
  39. Interim licences and interim variations
  40. 24Interim operators’ licences.
  41. 25Interim variations.
  42. Revocation etc. of operators’ licences
  43. 26Revocation, suspension and curtailment of operators’ licences.
  44. 27Revocation of standard licences.
  45. 28Disqualification.
  46. 29Revocation and disqualification etc: supplementary provisions.
  47. Review of operating centres
  48. 30Periods of review for operating centres.
  49. 31Power to remove operating centres on review.
  50. 32Power to attach conditions on review.
  51. Transfer of operating centres
  52. 33Transfer of operating centres.
  53. Environmental matters
  54. 34Determinations as to environmental matters.
  55. Inquiries
  56. 35Power of traffic commissioners to hold inquiries.
  57. Review of decisions and appeals
  58. 36Review of decisions.
  59. 37Rights of appeal in connection with operators’ licences.
  60. Forgery, false statements, etc.
  61. 38Forgery of documents, etc.
  62. 39False statements.
  63. Enforcement etc.
  64. 40Inspection of maintenance facilities.
  65. 41Power to seize documents etc.
  66. 42Meaning of “officer” and powers of police constables.
  67. 43Evidence by certificate.
  68. Miscellaneous
  69. 44Assessors.
  70. 45Fees.
  71. 46Holding companies and subsidiaries.
  72. 47Partnerships.
  73. 48Operators’ licences not to be transferable etc.
  74. 49Certificates of qualification.
  75. Large goods vehicles Not yet in force
  76. 50Large goods vehicles. Not yet in force
  77. General provisions
  78. 51Time for bringing proceedings.
  79. 52Destination of fines: Scotland.
  80. 53Method of calculating weight of motor vehicles.
  81. 54Saving for law of nuisance.
  82. 55Protection of public interests.
  83. 56Secretary of State’s power to hold inquiries. Repealed
  84. 56ATraffic commissioner may have regard to international obligations
  85. Regulations and orders
  86. 57Regulations and orders.
  87. Interpretation
  88. 58General interpretation.
  89. Supplementary provisions
  90. 59Transitional provision etc.
  91. 60Consequential amendments and repeals.
  92. 61Commencement.
  93. 62Short title and extent.
  94. Schedule 1: Meaning of “small goods vehicle”
  95. 1Paragraph 1 Repealed
  96. 1AParagraph 1A
  97. 1BParagraph 1B
  98. 2Paragraph 2
  99. 3Paragraph 3
  100. 4Paragraph 4
  101. 5Paragraph 5
  102. Schedule 1A: Detention of vehicles used without operator’s licence
  103. Interpretation
  104. 1Paragraph 1
  105. Detention of property
  106. 2Paragraph 2
  107. 3Paragraph 3
  108. Immobilisation and removal
  109. 4Paragraph 4
  110. 5Paragraph 5
  111. 6Paragraph 6
  112. 7Paragraph 7
  113. Return or disposal of vehicle
  114. 8Paragraph 8
  115. 9Paragraph 9
  116. 10Paragraph 10
  117. 11Paragraph 11
  118. 12Paragraph 12
  119. Return or disposal of contents of vehicle
  120. 13Paragraph 13
  121. Custody of property
  122. 14Paragraph 14
  123. Proceeds of sale
  124. 15Paragraph 15
  125. Disputes
  126. 16Paragraph 16
  127. Obstruction of authorised person
  128. 17Paragraph 17
  129. Offences as to securing possession of property
  130. 18Paragraph 18
  131. Schedule 2: Information about, and convictions of, applicants for and holders of operators’ licences
  132. Information to be given under section 8
  133. 1Paragraph 1
  134. 2Paragraph 2
  135. 3Paragraph 3
  136. 4Paragraph 4
  137. Offences
  138. 5Paragraph 5
  139. Repealed enactments
  140. 6Paragraph 6
  141. 7Notifiable fixed penalty notices
  142. Schedule 3: Qualifications for standard licence
  143. Effective and stable establishment
  144. A1Paragraph A1
  145. Good repute
  146. 1Paragraph 1
  147. 2Paragraph 2
  148. 3Paragraph 3
  149. 4Paragraph 4
  150. 5Paragraph 5
  151. Appropriate financial standing
  152. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  153. 6AParagraph 6A
  154. Professional competence
  155. 7Paragraph 7 Repealed
  156. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  157. 9Paragraph 9 Repealed
  158. 10Paragraph 10 Repealed
  159. 11Paragraph 11 Repealed
  160. 12Paragraph 12 Repealed
  161. 13Paragraph 13
  162. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  163. Requirements for a transport manager
  164. 14AParagraph 14A
  165. Transport manager to be notified of proceedings
  166. 15Paragraph 15
  167. Determinations in respect of transport managers
  168. 16Paragraph 16
  169. Transport managers: cancellation or variation of disqualification order
  170. 17Paragraph 17
  171. Schedule 4: Transfer of operating centres
  172. Transfers in connection with new licences
  173. 1Paragraph 1
  174. 2Paragraph 2
  175. Transfers in connection with the variation of licences
  176. 3Paragraph 3
  177. 4Paragraph 4
  178. 5Paragraph 5
  179. Schedule 5: Large Goods Vehicles Not yet in force
  180. Meaning of “large goods vehicle” Not yet in force
  181. 1Paragraph 1 Not yet in force
  182. Consignment notes Not yet in force
  183. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  184. Powers of entry and inspection Not yet in force
  185. 3Paragraph 3 Not yet in force
  186. Falsification of consignment notes and records Not yet in force
  187. 4Paragraph 4 Not yet in force
  188. Amendment of sections 38, 41 and 42 of this Act Not yet in force
  189. 5Paragraph 5 Not yet in force
  190. Schedule 6: Transitional provisions, transitory modifications and savings
  191. General transitional provisions
  192. 1Paragraph 1
  193. 2Paragraph 2 Not yet in force
  194. 3Paragraph 3
  195. 4Paragraph 4
  196. 5Paragraph 5
  197. Meaning of “local authority” in relation to Scotland or Wales
  198. 6Paragraph 6 Repealed
  199. Meaning of “holding company” and “subsidiary”
  200. 7Paragraph 7
  201. Provisions relating to the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) (Amendment) Regulations 2022
  202. 8Paragraph 8 Repealed
  203. 9Paragraph 9
  204. 10Paragraph 10
  205. 11Paragraph 11
  206. 12Paragraph 12
  207. 13Paragraph 13
  208. 14Paragraph 14
  209. 15Paragraph 15
  210. 16Paragraph 16
  211. 17Paragraph 17
  212. 18Paragraph 18
  213. 19Paragraph 19
  214. Schedule 7: Consequential amendments
  215. The Road Traffic Act 1960 (c. 16)
  216. 1Paragraph 1
  217. 2Paragraph 2 Repealed
  218. The Transport Act 1968 (c. 73)
  219. 3Paragraph 3
  220. 4Paragraph 4 Repealed
  221. Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act 1972 (c. 27)
  222. 5Paragraph 5
  223. 6Paragraph 6
  224. International Road Haulage Permits Act 1975 (c. 46)
  225. 7Paragraph 7
  226. Transport Act 1982 (c. 49)
  227. 8Paragraph 8
  228. London Regional Transport Act 1984 (c. 32)
  229. 9Paragraph 9
  230. Transport Act 1985 (c. 67)
  231. 10Paragraph 10
  232. Road Traffic Act 1988 (c. 52)
  233. 11Paragraph 11
  234. 12Paragraph 12
  235. 13Paragraph 13 Repealed
  236. 14Paragraph 14 Repealed
  237. Schedule 8: Repeals and revocations
  238. IEnactments repealed
  239. IISubordinate legislation revoked
  240. Part TABLE OF DERIVATIONS
  241. 1Notes:
  242. 2Paragraph 2
  243. 3Paragraph 3
  244. 4Paragraph 4