The DVSA annual test itself hasn't been torn up and rewritten. But the criteria assessors use have changed, the processes around it have shifted significantly towards digital, and the enforcement model sitting behind all of it has become considerably more targeted. 

ANPR data is directing roadside resources at specific vehicles before they ever reach a checkpoint. Remote tachograph downloads are catching driver hours violations without a physical stop. Digital weigh pads and under-vehicle inspection robots are entering the toolkit. Operators on Earned Recognition get fewer interruptions. Everyone else is more visible than they were.

New inspection manuals, digitised paperwork, updated guidance documents, and a series of reforms that came through 2025 and into early 2026 highlight just some of the changes that have come into place. Some are purely administrative, while others will affect whether vehicles pass or fail. 

This article covers what has changed, when it took effect, and what your operation needs to do.

New HGV inspection criteria took effect in April 2026

On 1st April 2026, the DVSA published updated versions of both the HGV and PSV Inspection Manuals. These govern what assessors look for during the annual test, how defects are categorised, and what constitutes a pass or failure. The previous versions are replaced.

The revised manuals update acceptable reasons for failure, revise defect categories, and adjust assessment procedures to reflect changes in vehicle technology and current industry practice. For operators running modern vehicles with ADAS systems, lighting changes, or updated braking equipment, some previously marginal items may now sit in different defect categories.

The HGV inspection manual is available to download from GOV.UK. If you haven't looked at it since April, that needs to change before the next annual test.

The GTMR is not optional

The April 2025 edition of the Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness is worth covering here in detail, because many treat it as advisory rather than binding.

Traffic Commissioners have repeatedly stated as much. The GTMR contains legislative requirements alongside best practice, and the distinction between the two matters considerably when you're defending your maintenance arrangements at a public inquiry.

The April 2025 edition made substantive changes across several areas. Every safety inspection must now include a formal brake performance assessment: a laden roller brake test, an EBPMS, or a decelerometer with temperature readings. 

Where laden testing isn't feasible, a documented risk assessment is required. The absence of a load isn't sufficient justification on its own. Walkaround check requirements were extended for vehicles operating in arduous conditions. The EPMS parking brake assessment section was expanded with additional guidance.

If your maintenance procedures were updated when this edition came out, good. If they weren't, the April 2026 inspection manual update is a reasonable prompt to go back and do that now.

HGV laden roller brake testing

Since 1st April 2025, HGVs are required to complete at least four laden roller brake tests per year. Each test must be carried out with the vehicle loaded to a minimum of 65% of its design axle weight. Unladen tests no longer satisfy the requirement.

From 21st August 2025, approved load simulation brake rollers joined the permitted methods, giving operators without consistent access to physical loads a compliant alternative as long as the equipment appears on the DVSA-approved list.

The issue most operators will encounter is whether the tests are actually being conducted at the right weight. The threshold is 65% of design axle weight, which is a specific calculated figure, not whatever the vehicle happens to be carrying on the day. 

If you're using a third party for maintenance, ask what weight they're testing at and how they're calculating it. Some providers are recording the tests correctly on paper while the vehicles aren't reaching the minimum load on the roller.

What a PG9 and PG10 prohibition notice means for your operation

When a DVSA examiner finds a dangerous or serious defect during a roadside check or annual test, they issue a PG9 prohibition notice. 

Depending on the severity, this either grounds the vehicle immediately (an immediate prohibition) or gives a defined window to repair it (a delayed prohibition). An immediate PG9 means the vehicle cannot move until the defect is rectified.

Once the defect is fixed, the operator applies for a PG10 clearance notice. From 2nd February 2026, that clearance notice is sent by email rather than post to the address registered against the vehicle on the Vehicle Operator Licensing (VOL) system.

The change is an improvement in almost every respect. Clearances arrive faster, there's no postal delay, and digital notices are easier to track. 

The single risk it introduces is that if the email address on your VOL record is out of date, the notice goes nowhere. You could have a vehicle sitting unnecessarily off the road because a clearance was issued but never received. Worse, a vehicle could return to service with an active prohibition that nobody's actioned because the paperwork disappeared into an old email address.

Log into VOL, check the registered email on each vehicle record, and update anything that's wrong.

HGV plating certificates: how to download them for free

Since 13th February 2026, DVSA has formally promoted the ability to download and print HGV plating certificates through the GOV.UK MOT history service, free of charge. 

The service has been running since 2024 (certificates going back to 2021 are accessible), but DVSA only formally promoted it in February 2026. Plenty of operations are still requesting replacements through older channels and paying for something that's been free for over a year.

To download, go to the GOV.UK MOT history service, enter the registration, and download the certificate.

Vehicles on private plates can trigger a download error, typically because a plate change hasn't been correctly reflected in the system. The DVSA are aware of the problem and are working with the DVLA to automate updates for cherished transfers, which is the root cause. The current workaround is to email MYVT@dvsa.gov.uk.

MyVT: what it does and why it matters for your compliance process

Manage your Vehicle Testing (MyVT) is the replacement for the Technical Application System (TAS). It's the single platform for managing testing transactions, viewing MOT results, downloading certificates, and handling ATF scheduling.

The capabilities relevant to day-to-day compliance management. MOT results are visible in real time as soon as a test completes, pass certificates are available to download immediately, ATF sessions can be scheduled and managed online, and pre-funded account balances can be checked and topped up without contacting DVSA. 

The February 2026 update expanded account management so Vehicle Examination Facilities can add up to six additional users, making it more practical for multi-site operations to delegate correctly.

DVSA's position on TAS is that it's gone. The platform has limitations that the DVSA acknowledge openly, and they're continuing to develop it. But it's considerably more capable than what it replaced, and the operators getting the most from it are the ones who've actually set it up properly rather than using it as a last resort.

ADAS visual checks at the annual test

From 2nd February 2026, DVSA assessors began carrying out visual inspections of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems as part of the annual test process. Sensors, cameras, and malfunction indicator lamps are included.

These checks are not currently a pass/fail element of the annual test. The DVSA is using them to gather data and build understanding of how ADAS should eventually be assessed formally. Given that the technology is now standard on most new commercial vehicles, formal integration into the test criteria is a logical next step, and these visual checks are the groundwork.

The implication now is narrow but worth building into HGV walkaround checks: ADAS sensors and cameras must be clean, unobstructed, and undamaged. A camera obscured by mud or a sensor knocked out of alignment by a minor impact should be picked up on a walkaround, not by an assessor. 

Any MIL warning connected to a driver assistance system needs to be investigated and resolved, not left open on the basis that the system is supplementary.

PSV door testing: a new standardised tool from January 2026

From 5th January 2026, DVSA introduced a standardised tool for testing PSV door resistance. The previous approach involved manual force testing, which created inconsistency between sites and carried injury risk for assessors.

Where door mechanisms previously passed on the margin of a manually applied test, there's now a consistent measurement being applied across all test sites. Doors need to be properly maintained to that standard, not maintained to a level that worked under the old method.

Updated DVSA Guide to Driving Goods Vehicles

DVSA published a new edition of the Official Guide to Driving Goods Vehicles on 18th March 2026. 

The update includes ten Driver CPC case studies based on practical scenarios, revised safe driving guidance, and updated first aid content that now covers defibrillator use, consistent with the changes to theory test content introduced in 2026, which added CPR and defibrillator questions for the first time.

This doesn't change any regulatory requirements. What it does provide is a prompt to check where your drivers sit in their 35-hour periodic CPC training cycle. If anyone's behind, the new guide is a sensible starting point, and catching up now is better than doing it under pressure.

The 2026 action list

We’ve covered a lot of changes that have come into place over the last year. But what do you need to do? Here are seven actions to undertake:

• Download the updated HGV inspection manual. Effective 1st April 2026, the defect categories your vehicle will be assessed against have changed. Your workshop manager needs to have read this.

• Check your VOL email address. Every vehicle record, not just the main account email. The address registered against each individual vehicle. An outdated one means PG10 clearance notices disappear.

• Confirm your laden brake tests are loaded correctly. Four times per year, at 65% of design axle weight. Ask your maintenance provider for the specific figure they're testing at.

• Review the April 2025 GTMR. Particularly the brake performance assessment and arduous conditions sections. Traffic Commissioners are explicitly stating it isn't optional guidance. If your procedures haven't been updated to the current edition, that's the gap to close.

• Use GOV.UK for placing certificates. The MOT history service is free, immediate, and requires no phone call. If your admin team is still going through older routes, update the process.

• Set up MyVT properly. An account isn't enough. Real-time MOT results, ATF scheduling, and certificate downloads all need to be configured. Multi-site operations should add their additional users; the platform now supports up to six per VEF.

• Update walkaround check sheets for ADAS. Sensors, cameras, and MIL warnings need to be on the daily check now, before they become a formal test element. It's a small addition and the right time to make it.

Frequently asked questions

What is an HGV MOT, and how does it differ from a car MOT? 

The HGV annual test (referred to colloquially as an HGV MOT) is a mandatory annual roadworthiness inspection for heavy goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes. Unlike a car MOT, it's administered by DVSA-approved Authorised Testing Facilities or DVSA-owned Goods Vehicle Testing Stations, and the result feeds directly into the operator's compliance record via the OCRS system. A failed test, or a vehicle that misses its test date, doesn't just mean a vehicle is off the road; it's a data point DVSA uses when deciding where to direct roadside enforcement. That's the part many operators underestimate.

How do I check my HGV MOT status? 

Go to the GOV.UK MOT history service and enter the vehicle registration. Results are available for HGVs and trailers tested from 2018 onwards, with pass certificates downloadable from 2021. The service is free to use.

How do I download an HGV plating certificate? 

Through the GOV.UK MOT history service. Enter the registration, locate the test record, and download the certificate directly. No account is required, and there's no charge. Certificates are available from 2021 onwards.

What is the HGV laden brake test requirement? 

From 1st April 2025, HGVs must complete a minimum of four laden roller brake tests per year. Each test must be conducted with the vehicle loaded to at least 65% of its design axle weight, not 65% of any load that happens to be present but 65% of the design weight specified on the plating certificate. Approved load simulation brake rollers are permitted as an alternative to physical loads, provided the equipment is on the DVSA-approved list. This requirement is also set out in the April 2025 Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness.

What does OCRS stand for, and how does it affect my operation? 

OCRS stands for Operator Compliance Risk Score. DVSA uses it to assess the compliance history of operators and their vehicles, drawing on annual test results, roadside check outcomes, prohibitions, and other enforcement interactions. A poor OCRS score increases the likelihood of targeted roadside checks and can be cited in Traffic Commissioner proceedings. Operators can view their score through the Vehicle Operator Licensing (VOL) system.

What is DVSA Earned Recognition? 

Earned Recognition is a voluntary DVSA scheme that allows operators with robust, demonstrably compliant systems to share vehicle and driver data directly with the agency. In return, they receive fewer roadside stops and interventions. To qualify, operators must use approved software systems that submit compliance data to DVSA on an ongoing basis.

What is a PG9 prohibition notice?

A PG9 is issued by a DVSA examiner when a vehicle is found to have a defect during a roadside check or annual test. An immediate PG9 grounds the vehicle until the defect is repaired, and it cannot be moved except to a place of repair. A delayed PG9 gives a defined window to fix the issue before the vehicle is prohibited from use. Both types affect the operator's OCRS. Once a defect is rectified, the operator must apply for a PG10 clearance notice, which has been issued by email since February 2026.

How often should an HGV safety inspection be carried out? 

DVSA guidance in the GTMR specifies that safety inspection intervals should be set by the operator based on vehicle type, age, usage, and operating conditions, but the maximum interval for most HGVs is six weeks (the "6 weekly inspection"). Vehicles operating in arduous conditions (off-road, in aggressive environments, or at high utilisation) may require more frequent checks. The April 2025 GTMR update added specific additional guidance for walkaround checks on vehicles used in those conditions.

What is the HGV inspection manual and where can I get it? 

The DVSA HGV Inspection Manual sets out the specific criteria assessors use during the annual test, defect categories, reasons for failure, and the standards vehicles must meet. It was updated in April 2026, and the current version is available to download free from GOV.UK.

Can I check an HGV MOT history for a vehicle I'm considering buying? 

Yes. The GOV.UK MOT history service returns test history for HGVs and trailers regardless of current ownership. Enter the registration number to see test dates, outcomes, and any noted reasons for failure or advisories. Pass certificates from 2021 onwards can be downloaded.

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The changes covered in this article are largely administrative, and sit alongside an enforcement model that is better than it used to be at identifying non-compliance between tests.

The operators who handle 2026 without incident will be the ones running maintenance to a consistent standard throughout the year, keeping their OCRS in good shape, and treating the annual test as confirmation of what they already know.

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All changes in this article are drawn from DVSA's Moving On blog and GOV.UK guidance publications. Dates and requirements were current at time of writing. Always refer to the current versions of the HGV Inspection Manual and GTMR on GOV.UK as the authoritative source.