Balancing the pressures of running a business with the obligations of an Operator's Licence is tough — but you are not alone. We support you from application through to day-to-day compliance, for both Standard and Restricted Licences.
An Operator Licence (O-Licence) is the legal authority you need to run goods or passenger vehicles over 3.5 tonnes for hire, reward or in connection with a business. It is issued by the Traffic Commissioner, comes as a Standard (national or international) or Restricted licence, and commits you to a set of undertakings on roadworthiness, drivers' hours and safe operation. FTC helps you apply for, amend and maintain your licence — and keep it.
It can be quite tough to balance the pressures of running a business with the obligations of an Operator's Licence. Although the buck stops with you, you are not alone. We offer a comprehensive, bespoke set of solutions — from making your application to putting compliance into practice, we are with you every step of the way.
A Standard Licence allows the carriage of goods for hire or reward in Great Britain (and abroad, for International). It requires a qualified Transport Manager named on the licence. The operator and Transport Manager officially work in tandem to ensure compliance within the organisation.
A Restricted Licence allows the carriage of goods on your own account only, within Great Britain and abroad. It does not require a mandatory Transport Manager — the operator takes full responsibility for compliance. You may still appoint a full- or part-time manager who is not designated on the licence; they need not be fully CPC-trained but must have a working knowledge of the rules. Most Restricted Licences are held by businesses whose main activity is not transport — scaffolders, manufacturers, farmers or skip-hire firms. In our experience, these operators are at the most risk of falling foul of compliance, because the directors are knee-deep in running their core business. See our dedicated Restricted Licence services for tailored help.
To hold and keep an Operator's Licence you must:
These obligations include complying with all traffic, safety and environmental laws; maintaining and inspecting vehicles; keeping accurate records; ensuring drivers are properly trained and licensed; managing drivers' hours; managing risk; insuring vehicles; reporting incidents; and cooperating with regulatory authorities.
A new licence or a significant change to an existing licence requires you to advertise the proposal in a local newspaper. In our experience, the law here is outdated and newspapers charge heavily for a small advert — commonly between £250 and £2,000 depending on circulation. While we cannot make newspapers cheaper, we continue to raise the issue with the authorities and can advise on the best-priced circulation in your area. A downloadable advert template is available to help you draft the wording, naming both company and trading name where they differ, and directing representations to the Traffic Commissioner at Quarry House, Quarry Hill, Leeds, LS2 7UE within 21 days.
FTC service fees (single fee, no hidden charges):
General Operator Licence costs payable directly to the DVSA (separate from our fee):
| DVSA fee | Amount |
|---|---|
| New application fee | £257.00 |
| Licence issue fee | £401.00 |
| Continuation of a licence after 5 years | £401.00 |
| Interim licence fee | £68.00 |
| Major changes to licence fee | £257.00 |
You must keep your licence accurate and inform the Traffic Commissioner of relevant changes — including changes to operating centres, vehicle authorisation, directors or your Transport Manager. We can prepare and submit variations, manage any required advert, and liaise with the Traffic Commissioner on your behalf. For the full digital walkthrough, see our free step-by-step application guide, and for done-for-you support, our Operator Licence application service.
Need a hand? Get in touch for expert guidance on applying for or amending your Operator's Licence.
Book a free, no-obligation consultation and we'll talk through exactly what your fleet needs — no pressure, no jargon.
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