Tractors

Driving Licences & Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licences

Tractors are covered by a wide variety of regulations which can be complicated and easy to breach, even unknowingly.

In many cases, a Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence will be required to drive a tractor, even for purely agricultural purposes. Historically, enforcement in respect of Operator’s Licences in rural areas has not been regularly imposed, but this is changing. Consequently, more and more drivers are facing fixed penalty notices from the Police or proceedings brought by Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) and the Traffic Commissioner.

Tractors

Driver Licences

Agricultural tractors require a category F licence to drive on the public road. Car licence holders (Category B) automatically have category F entitlement.

A category F licence can be held from the age of 16 but 16 year olds are only entitled to drive tractors up to 2.45 metres wide, and tow trailers up to 2.45 metres wide and with 2 wheels, or 4 close-coupled wheels. After the age of 17 these restrictions do not apply.

Other, non-tractor agricultural motor vehicles require a category B licence, and you must also be over 21 years old to drive these.

Category F licences only apply to tractors used primarily for agriculture or forestry. A tractor that is not used for these purposes will require a Goods Vehicle Operator’s Licence.

Good Vehicle Operator’s Licence

Lorries, Vans and other vehicles

You need an Operator’s Licence to carry goods in a lorry, van or other vehicle if either:

1. The gross plated weight (the maximum weight that the vehicle can have at any one time) is over 3,500kg
2. The unladen weight is more than 1,525kg (where there is no plated weight)

Motor vehicle and trailer combination

Equally you need an Operator’s Licence for a motor vehicle and trailer combination if either:

1. The motor vehicle and the trailer(s) are plated and the total of their gross plated weights is more than 3,500kg
2. The total unladen weight of the vehicle and trailer combination is more than 1,525kg

You do not need an Operator’s Licence if your trailer’s unladen weight is less than 1,020kg and you only carry your own goods.

However you will require a Standard Operator’s Licence if you are carrying other people’s goods for hire or reward and the vehicle and trailer exceeds the weight limits above. 

You will need an Operator’s Licence if your business uses tractor and trailer combinations, with a weight of more than 3,500kg, to move goods of any description unless an exemption applies.

The likely exceptions relating to tractors are as follows:

1. The tractor is used solely for moving farming implements or articles (any distance), provided the tractor operator owns or is employed by the relevant farm
2. The tractor is used to haul farm produce within 15 miles (24.14 km) of the farm, or forestry estate (provided the tractor operator owns or is employed by the relevant farm)
3. The tractor is only used on the road to pass between land owned by the tractor owner, up to a maximum of 6 miles per week

A full list of exceptions is set out in Schedule 3 of the Goods Vehicles (Licencing of Operators) Regulation 1995. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/2869/schedule/3/made

If any of the exceptions do not apply then an Operator’s Licence will be required.

Types of Licence

There are three types of Operator’s Licence for good vehicles; Standard National Licence, Standard International Licence and Restricted Licence.

Standard National Licence allows you to carry your own goods in the UK and internationally and other people’s goods in the UK.

Standard International Licence allows you to carry your own and other people’s goods, both in the UK and on international journeys.

Restricted Licence allows you to carry your own goods only.

A tractor and trailer combination used in the UK will need either Standard National Licence to carry other people’s goods (for hire or reward) or a Restricted Licence to carry your own goods.

Weight Limits

The weight limit for an agricultural tractor and trailer combination is 31,000kg. The weight limit for the trailer itself is 18,290kg.

Enforcement & Prosecution

It is an offence to operate a vehicle without a valid Operator’s Licence if one is required.

The DVSA carries out regular roadside vehicle checks and checks on where the vehicles are usually kept (knows as operating centres). The DVSA will then submit information to Traffic Commissioner.

Your licence could be taken away, suspended or restricted by the Traffic Commissioner if you:

• Break any of the terms or conditions of your licence
• Do not meet health and safety conditions
• Are convicted of certain offences
• Are made bankrupt or (if the licence holder is a company) that company goes into liquidation, administration or receivership
• Use a place not listed on the licence as an operating centre
• Are given a prohibition notice by DVSA following an inspection

You could be called to a Public Inquiry by the Traffic Commissioner to consider what action, if any, is to be taken against you and your Operator’s Licence.

If you are facing DVSA prosecution or proceedings before the Traffic Commissioner in respect of your Operator’s Licence or would like more information in relation to this article please contact Patrick Geddes or the Criminal & Regulatory Department on 01978 291000 or [email protected].