Guidance

Vehicle operator licence applications: guidance

List of traffic areas, local newspaper advert template and convictions and cautions you will need to declare when applying for a vehicle operator licence.

From:
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency and Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
Published
17 April 2025
Last updated
7 August 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England, Scotland and Wales

Documents

Vehicle operator licences: traffic areas

HTML

Vehicle operator licences: convictions and cautions that must be declared

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Goods vehicle operator licence: newspaper advert template

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Details

When you apply for a vehicle operator licence, you will need to:

  • get separate licences for each traffic area you have an operating centre in - check the list to find out which counties, boroughs and districts are covered by each traffic area
  • declare any convictions and cautions people involved in your business have - check the list to see what has to be declared
  • advertise in a local newspaper where you plan to keep your vehicles (heavy goods vehicle licences only) - your advert must use the wording in the template

Find out more about how to apply for a vehicle operator licence.

Updates to this page

Published 17 April 2025
Last updated 7 August 2025 href="#full-history">+ show all updates

  1. Updated the template in 'Goods vehicle operator licence: newspaper advert template' to include the web address to view the guide to making representations.

  2. First published.

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