Drivers' Hours Rules and Regulations
This section is for anyone who drives a goods vehicle or a passenger-carrying vehicle. You can use it to check the drivers' hours rules and how many rest breaks you need to take.
Note: The DfT announced the temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers' hours rules to facilitate the delivery of essential items to retailers during the coronavirus outbreak.
WORKING TIME DIRECTIVE: Any one, or all, of these sets of rules on drivers hours and tachographs may apply to a journey:
- Great Britain GB Domestic Rules
- European Union EU Rules
- Accord Européen sur les Transports Routiers AETR Rules
The particular rules that apply to a professional driver will depend on:
- What kind of vehicle you are driving.
- Which country you drive the vehicle in.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency produce guidance notes on their current enforcement policy with further information:
- The 'DVSA GV262 rules on drivers' hours and tachographs' for goods vehicles in Great Britain and Europe.
- The 'DVSA PSV375 passenger vehicles rules on drivers' hours and tachographs'.
- How and when to request emergency exemption and temporary relaxation of drivers' hours and working time rules.
Drivers' Hours Rules for Employers
Employing professional drivers means you will need to monitor the working time of any 'mobile workers'. Ensuring they do not go over the limit and recording their working time is also a responsibility of an employer. You must keep the records available for inspection for at least two (2) years.
What is a mobile worker? Typical examples of mobile workers include:
- Drivers: The list includes agency drivers, employed drivers, and own-account drivers.
- Staff members who are part of the vehicle crew (e.g. a second driver on a coach).
- Anyone else who is part of the travelling staff. Examples could be a drayman, a bus conductor, or a security guard (e.g. aboard a vehicle that carries high-value goods).
Some workers may carry out activities on an occasional basis covered by EU drivers' hours rules. In this case, the mobile worker regulations may not cover their driving hours. Even so, they would still need to follow other rules on the maximum weekly working hours.
Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Enforcement
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency enforce drivers' hours rules and regulations. Breaking the rules means the DVSA can give you:
- An improvement notice: This sets out the changes that you would need to make by a given date.
- A prohibition notice: This would require you to either:
- Stop a dangerous activity with immediate effect.
- Start complying with the rules and regulations.
Note: As a rule, the DVSA take a 'proportionate' approach on regulation enforcement. That means persistent or serious offenders would be the ones most likely to receive formal action.
Drivers Hours Regulations Goods Vehicles
There are several different rules that apply to goods vehicles. It would depend on the weight of the vehicle, the country it gets driven in, and what the vehicle gets used for.
EU Driving Hours
You would need to apply the EU rules if the maximum permissible weight of the vehicle (or vehicle combination) is over 3.5 tonnes and you drive it in either:
- The European Union (includes the United Kingdom)
- A country within the European Economic Area (EEA)
- Switzerland
Note: Certain vehicle types are exempt from EU rules when they get driven in the United Kingdom (see below).
AETR Rules
AETR relates to the European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews Engaged in International Road Transport. Thus, AETR rules will apply if your vehicle is going to pass through an AETR country (see below).
GB Domestic Rules
The Great Britain domestic rules would apply if (both):
- The maximum permissible weight of the vehicle - or vehicle combination - is less than 3.5 tonnes.
- The vehicle is exempt from EU rules (see below) while driven in the United Kingdom.
Note: Contact the UK embassy of the country to check on the local rules if you drive outside of the UK, EU, EEA, or Switzerland.
Further Guidance Notes and Information
- A guide outlining safety and compliance advice for drivers and operators in the recovery industry.
- A leaflet about the basic rules and responsibilities for HGV drivers.
- A leaflet about the basic rules and responsibilities for PSV drivers.
- A guide about owning and running horseboxes and trailers.
Passenger Carrying Vehicles
Different drivers' hours rules apply when driving a vehicle that carries passengers. It will depend on:
- The total number of passenger seats in the vehicle.
- How far you will be driving (the route distance).
- Whether you will drive into or from a different country.
- Whether you will be driving on a regular service or a non-regular service.
Note: The definition of a regular service is one that follows a specified route and has stopping points along the route for passengers to get on or off the vehicle.
Public Service Vehicles
A public service vehicle (or PSV) is one used to carry passengers either for hire or for payment. The tables show the different types of drivers' hours rules and regulations that may apply to your type of operation.
| Type of Operation | 8 Passenger Seats (or less) | 9 to 12 Passenger Seats | 13 to 16 Passenger Seats | 17 Passenger Seats (or more) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Regular service on route not exceeding 50km | GB domestic rules | GB domestic rules | GB domestic rules | GB domestic rules |
| National or international regular service on route exceeding 50km | The local rules of the countries you drive in (GB domestic rules in the UK) | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules |
| National or international non-regular service (e.g. commercial excursions, private hire, or tours) | The local rules of the countries you drive in (GB domestic rules in the UK) | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules |
Other Types of PSVs (including 'permit operations')
Typical examples of 'permit operations' would be school minibuses or the type of vehicles that are often used by community groups.
| Type of Operation | 8 Passenger Seats (or less) | 9 to 12 Passenger Seats | 13 to 16 Passenger Seats | 17 Passenger Seats (or more) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UK journeys (non-PSV public 'services' or 'utilities' purposes) | Drivers' hours rules do not apply | Drivers' hours rules do not apply | GB domestic rules | GB domestic rules |
| UK journeys (non-PSV business use) | Drivers' hours rules do not apply | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules |
| UK journeys (Permit 19 and Permit 22 vehicles driven by volunteer or private use) | Drivers' hours rules do not apply | Drivers' hours rules do not apply | Drivers' hours rules do not apply | EU/AETR rules |
| UK journeys (Permit 19 and Permit 22 vehicles driven by employee) | Drivers' hours rules do not apply | GB domestic rules | GB domestic rules | EU/AETR rules |
| International journeys (including private use) | local rules of the countries driven in | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules | EU/AETR rules |
Vehicle Exemptions from EU Law
Certain types of vehicles and their uses get an exemption from EU rules. Thus, while driving them in the United Kingdom they will come under GB domestic rules. A list of the main types of exempt vehicles includes:
- Any vehicle propelled by steam.
- Breakdown vehicles (e.g. specialised breakdown vehicles working within a 100km of their base).
- Circus vehicles (e.g. those specialised for transporting circus and funfair equipment).
- Educational Vehicles (e.g. mobile libraries and play buses).
- Emergency aid vehicles (e.g. those used in the non-commercial transport of humanitarian aid for use in rescue operations or other emergencies).
- Milk collection vehicles used for collecting milk from farms or returning milk containers or milk products for animal feed to farms.
- Non-commercial vehicles under 7.5 tonnes (e.g. used to move goods carried by a non-profit making group or registered charity).
- Vehicles that cannot exceed 40 kilometres per hour (includes vehicles restricted by a set speed limiter).
- Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair, or maintenance purposes (includes new or rebuilt vehicles not yet put into service).
- Vehicles manufactured over 25 years ago.
- Vehicles with between 10 and 17 seats used exclusively for non-commercial passengers (e.g. minibuses used by voluntary groups or community groups).
- Vehicles used by agricultural, forestry, horticultural, farming, or fishery businesses for carrying goods within 100km of the business base.
- Vehicles used to carry:
- Animal waste or carcasses not intended for human consumption.
- Live animals between a farm and a market, or from a market to a slaughterhouse (providing the distance is less than 50km).
- Vehicles (or vehicle combinations) with a maximum permissible weight of 7.5 tonnes or less used for carrying work equipment used by the driver.
- Vehicles driven only on islands whereby the land area does not exceed 2,300 square kilometres.
- Vehicles with a maximum weight of 7.5 tonnes which use natural or liquefied gas or electricity as fuel and carry goods within 50km from their base.
- Vehicles used for commercial driving instruction and examination. It also includes the instruction for the renewal of Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).
Note: Read further guidance on vehicles or uses exempt from the EU rules regardless of where the vehicle gets driven within the EU. You can find an approved speed limiter centre through the GOV.UK website.
EU Rules on Drivers Hours and Working Time
HGV Driving Hours
The foremost EU rules on driving hours dictate that the driver must not drive a vehicle more than:
- Nine (9) hours in any given day (may be extended to ten (10) hours but only two times per week).
- Fifty six (56) hours in any given week.
- Ninety (90) hours in any period of two consecutive weeks.
Note: EU rules state that all the driving carried out must be recorded on a vehicle tachograph. The Department for Transport (DfT) introduced a temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the retained EU drivers' hours rules in England, Scotland, and Wales.
Breaks and Rest
EU rules place several restrictions on breaks and rest. But, in general the driver must take:
- At least eleven (11) hours of rest every day. You may choose to reduce it to nine (9) hours of rest taken three times between any two weekly rest periods.
- An unbroken rest period of forty five (45) hours every week. You may choose to reduce it to twenty four (24) hours every other week.
- A break (or several breaks) totalling at least forty five (45) minutes after no more than four (4) hours 30 minutes of driving.
- Weekly rest following six (6) consecutive 24-hour periods of working. It should start from the end of the last weekly rest period taken.
Note: Coach drivers who are on an international trip may take their weekly rest after twelve (12) consecutive 24-hour periods. It should start from the end of the last weekly rest period taken.
AETR Rules on Drivers Hours
The European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport are the AETR rules. They now follow the same regulations as the EU rules on drivers' hours. AETR rules on drivers hours cover these countries:
- Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, Liechtenstein, Macedonia, Monaco, Moldova, Russia, San Marino, Serbia and Montenegro, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan.
HGV GB Domestic Driving Hours
The rules of GB domestic driving hours apply to people who are driving lorries and buses in Great Britain. The regulations apply to most passenger-carrying vehicles and goods vehicles. Some exceptions apply if you need to follow the EU rules instead.
Note: Separate rules and regulations apply on tachograph and drivers' hours in Northern Ireland.
Goods Vehicles
Duty Time
The duty time of a driver who works for a company is any of the working time. It is different for self-employed workers. In this case, duty time applies only to the time spent driving the vehicle (or doing other work related to it or its load).
Daily Driving Limit
The daily driving limit restricts the time you can drive. Drivers cannot drive for more than ten (10) hours in any given day:
- On a public road.
- Off-road (if not during duty time).
The definition of off-road driving would be that which counts as duty time providing it is for:
- Agriculture
- Building work
- Civil engineering
- Forestry
- Quarrying
Daily Duty Limit
Drivers' hours rules and regulations are strict in the United Kingdom. As a professional driver, you must not be on duty for more than eleven (11) hours in any working day. The exception to this limit applies on a working day when you do not drive a vehicle.
Note: A tachograph records information on driving time, distance travelled, and vehicle speed. All drivers must record their hours following tachograph regulations or on a weekly record sheet.
Passenger-carrying Vehicles
Duty Time
The duty time of a driver who works for a company is any of the working time. It is different for self-employed workers. In this case, duty time applies only to the time spent driving the vehicle (or doing other work related to it or its load).
Breaks and Continuous Driving
Once you have driven for five (5) hours 30 minutes, you must take a break of at least thirty (30) minutes. The break allows for a rest from driving and for refreshment.
You must take at least 45 minutes in breaks within any period of eight (8) hours 30 minutes of driving. It must accompany a break of at least 30 minutes at the end of this period (unless taken at the end of the working day).
Length of Working Day (spreadover)
Drivers must not work over sixteen (16) hours between the times of starting and finishing work. This also applies to any non driving work.
Daily Rest Periods
A rest of ten (10) hours must take place before the first duty and immediately after the last duty in any working week.
A similar period of ten hours of rest must occur between two working days (or spreadovers). Drivers can reduce it to 8.5 hours up to three (3) times in any given week.
Even so, all driver duties must start and finish within a 24-hour period.
Fortnightly Rest Periods
Drivers must take at least one period of 24 hours off duty every two (2) weeks.
Note: The definition of a fixed week is one that runs from 00:00 hours on a Monday to 24:00 hours on the following Sunday.
Exemptions to GB Domestic Rules
The GB Domestic rules do not apply to a driver if he or she will drive:
- Less than four (4) hours in any given day.
- Off-road or on private roads during duty time.
- A vehicle used by the British Armed forces, the police, or the fire brigade.
- To deal with an emergency (e.g. a major disruption to public services or a danger to life.
Driving Under EU and GB Domestic Rules
The following information is for anyone who works partly under EU/AETR rules and partly under the GB domestic rules. They apply to work carried out during a day or during any given week.
- The limits of driving under EU rules also count towards the driving and duty limits under GB domestic rules.
- You must take EU daily rest periods, along with a weekly rest period, on any days that you drive according to EU rules.
- Any time spent driving under EU rules does not count as an off-duty period under GB domestic rules.
- Driving, and other duty, under GB domestic rules count as 'attendance at work'. It does not count as a break or a rest period under the EU rules.
Combined Driving Limits
The GB domestic limit of ten (10) hours (at most) driving a day applies as the driving limits. But, you must follow all the rules on EU driving limits any time you actually drive under the EU rules.
Maximum Duty Limit
The GB domestic limit of a maximum of eleven (11) hours on duty applies when driving under both EU and GB domestic rules.
Rest Periods and Breaks
While driving under EU rules, you must follow the restrictions set out for rest periods and breaks on days and on weeks. But, there is no need to take a weekly rest period in any fixed week when you are not driving under EU rules.
Note: The definition of a fixed week is one that runs from 00:00 hours on a Monday to 24:00 hours on the following Sunday.
HGV Driving Hours Rules and Regulations in the United Kingdom