The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have merged to form the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

Most commercial vehicles must be tested every year to make sure that they are roadworthy and follow regulations. This is known as the annual test.

As well as the annual test, your HGV must be tested if you want to be able to:

• carry explosives or dangerous goods in bulk - this is known as the ADR test
• take goods vehicles outside the EU - this is known as the TIR test
• ‘uprate’ or ‘downrate’ your vehicle to change the weight it’s allowed to carry
• qualify for a Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC) or Low Emissions Certificate (LEC)

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have merged to form the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The ADR is a specialist test for vehicles carrying dangerous or hazardous goods in bulk by road.

Your vehicle must pass an ADR test if it’s a commercial vehicle or trailer used to carry explosives, or if it’s used in the UK or abroad:

• to carry dangerous goods in a fixed tank, demountable tank or fixed battery of pressure vessels of over 1,000 litres capacity
• for carrying dangerous goods in a container or portable tank or battery of pressure vessels of over 3,000 litres capacity

The test varies depending on the type of goods you want to carry.

How to book a test and what it costs

1. Complete the application for an ADR test.

2. Say on the form if the vehicle is to be tested while still carrying dangerous goods (or their residue) - DVSA will make arrangements for this.

3. Include copies of insurance certificates (originals will need to be seen at the test) for fixed tanks, batteries and pressure vessels.

Send your application at least 10 days before you want to take the test. Send your application to the address on the form or using the contact details below.

ADR test booking
adrbooking@vosa.gov.uk
Fax: 01792 454367

Vehicles and trailers need individual certification. So an articulated or drawbar combination will need 2 ADR applications, 1 for the vehicle and 1 for the trailer. You have to pay a fee for each part.

Fees for ADR testing and certification

The fees listed are in addition to the standard annual test fee.

Fees may be different in Northern Ireland.

Taking your vehicle to the test

Vehicles shouldn't normally be loaded or uncleaned when they're taken for the ADR test, unless special arrangements have been made with the testing station.

The exception is for vehicles loaded with UN1202 diesel, gas or heating oil where there’s also no residue of other flammable materials in tank vapour spaces.

If a dangerous goods vehicle is taken to the test uncleaned or purged, or is laden with dangerous goods, DVSA will need to see evidence that the vehicle is accompanied by a person with an appropriate ADR driver's licence.

You’ll need to submit form VTG15 to the testing station to show if your vehicle is carrying or has been carrying dangerous goods.

Getting a re-inspection after a failed test

If you fail the test, phone the testing station you used to arrange another inspection.

New goods vehicle tractor units that have ‘ADR-type approval’

If you buy a new tractor unit, ask your vehicle supplier if it has been built to an ‘ADR-type approval’. This mean you can get ADR-type certification for it. The manufacturer should supply a combined Declaration of Conformity, and application form ADR IIIA, that you can then send to DVSA.

Duplicate ADR certificates

You can get a duplicate certificate as long as the ADR certificate is still current. You can’t get a duplicate of an expired certificate.

Write to DVSA’s ADR Section with the following details:

• vehicle/trailer ID
• operator name and address
• reason for request (eg you’ve lost the certificate or there’s been a change of owner/operator)
• payment details

DVSA - ADR Section
adrbooking@vosa.gov.uk

DVSA
ADR Section
Ellipse
Padley Road
Swansea
SA1 8AN

Change of ADR category

If you want a new certificate because there’s been a change of ADR category you’ll need to call the ADR Section on 01792 454 986/250 for advice. Find out about call charges

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have merged to form the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

The TIR system allows UK customs officials to pack and seal goods before they are transported outside the EU. This means that the load won’t need to be opened and inspected by customs officials at border crossings.

To meet the TIR requirements your vehicle must pass a test to make sure that:

• nothing can be put into or taken from the vehicle without it being obvious
• the goods compartment is built so that it has to be accessed from both inside and outside to be removed and replaced

Normal 'curtainsider' lorries manufactured in Britain are not constructed to the TIR standard and can't practically be modified.

You can find more details about the technical requirements in the Economic Commission for Europe’s TIR Handbook.

Download 'TIR Handbook' (PDF, 1.5MB)

Book a TIR test

To book a TIR test, fill in and send off the application form at least 1 month before you want the test.

You’ll need to fill in a separate form for each vehicle or trailer.

Send your application and a cheque (made payable to ‘DVSA’) to the test station where you want the vehicle tested.

Find details of DVSA Test Station locations or contact the DVSA Helpline.

DVSA Helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Find out about call charges

The test is highly specialised, so not all DVSA test stations carry out the test - check with the DVSA helpline for your nearest capable station.

Cancelling a test

You’ll need to give adequate notice (normally 3 days) to cancel an inspection. Otherwise the fee won’t be refunded.

TIR test fees

Fees may be different in Northern Ireland.

The TIR test certificate lasts for 2 years from the date it was issued.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have merged to form the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

You can apply to increase the maximum permitted weight your lorry can carry.

If no physical changes have been made to the design this is known as ‘up-plating’, or ‘uprating’ if the design has been modified. You’ll get a new plate to show the change in permitted weight.

After up-plating or uprating, you’ll have to pay a higher rate of vehicle tax if it means you replate to a higher vehicle tax band.

Downplating and downrating

You can also ‘downplate’ or ‘downrate’ your lorry. This reduces the maximum weight it can work at and will lower its rate of vehicle tax.

Your vehicle will be inspected by DVSA if it has been uprated or downrated before it is issued with new plates at the new weights.

Up-plated and downplated lorries are not usually inspected, although downplated vehicles might have to pass an official weight test before DVSA issues a new plate.

Apply to replate your lorry

Fill in form VTG10 and send it with payment for £28 to the address on the form or your nearest DVSA goods vehicle testing station.

You must apply to DVLA using form V70 to re-licence the lorry once it's replated. Send your new plating certificate VTG7 with your application.

The Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) have merged to form the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA).

If you modify a vehicle to cut its emissions, you can get it tested by DVSA for a Reduced Pollution Certificate (RPC).

An RPC reduces the cost of your vehicle tax and may mean that you can drive in London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) without charge.

If your vehicle isn’t eligible for an RPC test you may be able to take a Low Emissions Certificate (LEC) test. This means you can drive in an LEZ but won’t qualify for reduced vehicle tax.

You can have the test done as part of your annual test, or separately. It’s cheaper as part of the annual test.

RPCs

A trade or business HGV over 3,500kg is eligible for the RPC test if it’s:

• fitted with an engine of a ‘higher environmental standard (certified as Euro IV or above that’s LEZ compliant)
• converted to run on gas (vehicles modified to a gas engine with spark ignition are LEZ compliant)
• fitted with an Environmentally Enhanced Vehicle (EEV) engine (Euro V and registered in the UK before 1 October 2009)

Trade or business HGV over 3,500kg fitted with an approved Euro VI engine can also get a RPC certificate but don’t need to go for a test. Call the DVSA Helpline for more details.

DVSA Helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

LECs

If your vehicle isn’t eligible for an RPC you can take an LEC test if your vehicle was registered in the UK before 1 October 2006 and is fitted with a full filter to LEZ emissions standards.

Contact TfL if you want to get a LEC for a vehicle that has been 're-engined' to meet LEZ emissions standards. Contact DVLA if its fitted or converted to run solely on petrol or has had an approved gas conversion.

TfL Low Emission Zone
lezlondon@tfl.gov.uk
Telephone: 0845 607 0009
Textphone: 020 7310 8999
International: +44 (0)20 7310 8998
Sunday to Friday, 6am to 12:30am
Saturday, 6am to 10pm
Find out about call charges

TfL
Low Emission Zone
PO Box 4784
Worthing
BN11 9PU

What happens at the test

The tests for both the RPC and the LEC are in 2 parts:

• physical inspection to check any modifications, such as a filter fitted to the exhaust
• smoke opacity test to check emissions

You must bring your previous RPC or LEC certificate - the examiner can refuse to test the vehicle without it.

If your vehicle passes, you’ll be issued with a new certificate. Details will be passed on to TfL automatically. It will take about 3 days for your details to be updated so you can drive in the LEZ.

If your vehicle is registered outside Great Britain, you need to register with TfL yourself.

Book an RPC or LEC test

To book your test, call the DVSA Helpline. You'll need:

• your vehicle registration number
• your vehicle identification or chassis number
• the make, model and date of manufacture
• details of any modifications made to meet the reduced pollution standard
• to tell DVSA where you'd like to take the test

You can take a test at a DVSA's test station, authorised testing facility (ATF) or designated premises (DP).

DVSA Helpline
Telephone: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm
Find out about call charges

Fees

It’s cheaper to have an RPC or LEC test done as part of your annual test.

The fees for tests are:

Find out regular opening hours by calling the DVSA helpline.

Fees may be different in Northern Ireland.

Appeal against a decision

Appeal against a decision on an RPC or LEC test by filling in form RPC3 and sending it to DVSA. The address is on the form.