How to make changes to your operator licence

Updated: Dec 3, 2020

**Updated October 2020**

Senior traffic commissioners have warned hauliers to make TC’s aware of any changes to their operating licences and are reminding operators that failure to do so could result in action being taken against their O-licence.

To help you make changes to your operator’s licence quickly and easily online please read on.

Once you have a goods vehicle operator’s licence, you may need to change certain details held on it. You can make some changes easily online.

You can…..

Use the Vehicle operator licensing self-service to manage your licence to pay your licence fees and make changes to your goods or public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence.

You’ll need to register first to use this service.

TIP: This service doesn’t work with Google Chrome or Internet Explorer 8 or later. Use another browser, eg Firefox or Safari.

Before you start you’ll need to register. To use the service you’ll need either:

a current operator’s licence number
the reference number from your operator licence application

Once you’ve registered you’ll be sent a password in the post within a week. You can then start using the online service.

What you can do

Prior to 2020 you could use the online service to:

View a summary of your operator licence records
change your address or trading name
apply to add or remove operating centre information
pay licence fees
add or remove vehicles
apply to increase or decrease the number of vehicles you’re authorised to operate
order duplicate operator licence discs

As of 2020 you can use the online service to:

add more vehicles to your licence
increase the vehicle limit on your licence
add or remove a transport manager
change your licence type
give up (‘surrender’) your licence

You have to apply by post to transfer an operating centre to another licence.

To make other changes you’ll need to fill in some forms instead.

Below are the links to the forms required to make other changes that you aren’t able to do online. Please note that as of 2020 these forms may have been updated it is therefore recommended that you contact the DVSA to request the form you need. The DVSA can be contacted on:

DVSA customer service centre

Telephone: 0300 123 9000

Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

Add more vehicles (up to your limit)

Use the form GV80 to apply to add more vehicles up to your authorised limit.

2020 Update - You can now do this online. Click here to be directed to the .GOV website to make an update online

Change operating centre details or increase your vehicle limit

Use the form GV81 to apply to:

use more vehicles than your authorisation currently allows
change your operating centre
add a new operating centre

You’ll have to pay a fee to increase the number of vehicles authorised on your licence or change your operating centre.

2020 Update - You can now increase your vehicle limit online. Click here to be directed to the .GOV website to make an update online

2020 Update - Please contact the DVSA customer service centre on 0300 123 9000 to request a form to change your operating centre details

Transfer your operating centre

Use form GV72 to transfer your operating centre to another operator, and send it with a completed GV81 form. You don’t need to advertise.

2020 Update - You have to apply by post to transfer an operating centre to another licence. Click here to access the information you need.

Change transport manager details or type of licence

Use form GV80A to:

upgrade your type of licence
change your nominated transport manager
add a transport manager to a licence

Read further guidance:

2020 Update - You can now do this online. Click here to be directed to the .GOV website to make an update online

Change your correspondence or office address

Use form COA to tell the traffic commissioner about changing your correspondence or ‘establishment’ address (the place where you keep your important documents and data).

2020 Update - You need to contact DVSA customer service centre on 0300 123 9000 to request a form to do this.

Surrendering your licence

Use form SUR1 to surrender your licence.

So there you have it, all you need to know to make changes to your operator’s licence.

2020 Update - You can now do this online. Click here to be directed to the .GOV website to make an update online

Further help and guidance

Making changes to your operator licence can be a worrying process, however, there is no need to panic. NTP can help you make changes to your operator licence. For more information about this service please contact our team by CLICKING HERE or calling our friendly team on 01406 424500

**NEW** - The complete guide to applying for, and making changes to, your operator's licence. CLICK HERE to find out more.

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