Once all of your ducks are lined up and you are confident that you have all of the information you need to submit a successful Vehicle Operator Licence (VOL) application, you must make a legally binding declaration.  There are two options for submitting this – either print it off, sign it and post it to the Central Licensing Office or sign it online using specific GOV.UK verification software.

You will also be asked to pay fees as follows (applicable to NI only):

• Application fee – £254 (payable along with the application)

• Licence fee – £449 (payable later when the licence has been granted)

The normal time to wait for a licence to be granted is somewhere in the region of 7-9 weeks from the date of application.  If you need the licence sooner, you can submit a request for an ‘interim application’, at an additional cost of £68. If you request an interim licence, a free text box will appear asking you to explain why you need it sooner. A legitimate reason could be, for example, that you have the chance of winning a contract and if you are not granted the licence sooner, you risk losing the potential contract.

Please note: all fees are correct at the time of publication (November 2022).

In some cases, the Department will have queries about your submission, and in most of these cases, you will be afforded the opportunity to fix any errors or to provide additional assurances.  However, if you make any mistake during the process that causes the application to be rejected, there is a no refund policy and you will have to pay to submit another application.

Vehicle Operator Licence Application Checklist

You will need the following to submit with your application:

• Bank statement or other financial evidence
• An original copy of your newspaper advert(s)
• Your Transport Manager’s CPC certificate
• Google maps aerial image

You must also have a maintenance agreement (contract) with your Safety Inspector if this is being outsourced to an external party.  And you will be required to upload your vehicle registrations as soon as you know them.

There are three options for all documents that are to be submitted.  You can upload files of various file formats (PDF, DOC, JPG, PNG or GIF) at the time of application, later by logging in to your account, or by sending via post to the Department for Infrastructure (Leeds address).  If sending by post, make sure to include your application reference.

If you need expert help with any vehicle operator licence application or variation, please contact John on +44 7894 140796 or info@ajttc.co.uk.