The most common VOL variation is the addition of a new Operating Centre or an increase in the number of vehicles being operated at an existing Operating Centre.  In these cases, a full variation application must be submitted and a variation fee is payable.  Any such change also requires you to advertise a Public Notice in a local newspaper.  Read more about the intricacies of the Public Notice here.

If you have multiple Operating Centres but are only making changes to one or adding a new one, you only have to mention the new or proposed amendment in the advert.

You will also be required to provide financial evidence to prove you have enough funds to operate any proposed increase in vehicles.  For this reason, it is advisable that the number of vehicles you apply for during the initial VOL application will give you a margin for growth to avoid the number of variation applications that you will have to make later.

Substituting Vehicles (Additions & Removals within Authorised Limit)

 Changes to vehicles recorded against the licence (adding or removing) can be made online, provided the number of authorised vehicles is not exceeded at the Operating Centre (within the ‘margin’).

Making this type of change is simple.  In the online VOL account, vehicle registration numbers can easily be removed or added. When a new registration is added, an O-licence identity disc is automatically sent out.

You should ensure any additional vehicles are added before you start operating them.  As soon as a vehicle is no longer being operated by you, remove it from your list of authorised vehicles.

Increasing the Number of Vehicles

If you need to add vehicles that will exceed your authorised limit, you need to make a VOL variation application and fees will be payable.

You should always be planning ahead so that variation applications can be made as soon as you know you need to make a change, since even the most straightforward cases can take 7-9 weeks to get approved.  Any variation with complications could take longer.

If, for example, you win a new contract that requires a significant uplift in vehicle numbers, this may not have been foreseeable, but we would expect you to have enough margin generally to cover additional vehicles during peak periods in the year (such as the Christmas rush), without having to make a variation application.

Vehicles Travelling Internationally

In addition to having a Standard International Licence type, you will also require a UK Licence for the Community if you transport goods by road to or through the EU (or Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland).  This permit covers you for trips between or transiting through these countries.

It is important to note that, while these permits can be applied for on a new VOL application, there is no way to do this with a variation application.  Instead, you need to request the additional permits from the NI central licencing office (NICLO) in Leeds once any uplift in vehicle numbers on your VOL has been approved.

If you need any further assistance with this, please contact John on +44 7894 140796 or info@ajttc.co.uk.