New test requirements for heavy vehicle operators

Certain vehicles with heavy goods chassis will need to have had an annual test by 20th May 2019 to remain legal on Britain’s roads.

This is because some heavy goods vehicles lost their test exemption in May 2018 and came into the scope of test.

Vehicles must now pass an annual test before the next vehicle tax renewal is due.

What vehicles are covered?

Vehicles now needing a test certificate include:

• mobile cranes;

• breakdown vehicles (not breakdown vans);

• tower wagons;

• some mobile engineering plants;

• some trailers designed for the production of asphalt;

• road construction vehicles (not road rollers);

• electrically propelled motor vehicles first registered since 1st March 2015;

• tractor units pulling exempt trailers;

• certain motor tractors and heavy and light locomotives exempted under sections 185 and 186 (3) of the Road Traffic Act 1988, where these are based on an HGV chassis

They will then need a test every year after their first test.

Find out more about the annual testing here:

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/heavy-goods-vehicles-phased-roll-out-of-annual-tests-from-may-2018