What Are The New HGV Rules and Penalties for London?

New HGV rules and penalties for London came into force on 5 May 2025.

In this post we’ll outline the new rules to help you, and your fleet, avoid a hefty fine when driving through the city.

For more information on how we can help you and your fleet, get in touch with us on 020 8290 9099 or email us at commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.

What Are The New HGV Rules and Penalties for London?

Direct Vision Standard (DVS) Rules
Transport for London (TfL) have strengthened the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) rules. This is a measure of how much a driver can see of the road around them from their windows.

If your HGV weighs 12 tonnes or more, you will need a minimum three-star DVS rating before you can drive in Greater London.

Failing that, you need to install a Progressive Safe System (PSS), a selection of enhanced safety features.

All zero-, one-, or two-star DVS permits expired in October 2024. The deadline for obtaining a new three-star or more permit was 5 May 2025. From now on, if you drive a large HGV in London without an adequate permit, or without having met permit conditions, you’ll face a fine of £550.

Progressive Safe System (PSS) Requirements for HGVs in London

All zero-, one-, or two-star rated vehicles will need to meet seven PSS requirements to operate in London:

1. A camera monitoring system on the nearside of the vehicle, to eliminate the blind spot.
2. Class V and VI mirrors, or an adequate camera monitoring system, or a combination of the two, on both the front and nearside of the vehicle.
3. A blind spot information system to provide full coverage of the entire nearside of the vehicle. This system must be capable of detecting vulnerable road users, but it must not activate when it detects roadside furniture or stationary vehicles.
4. A moving off information system on the front of the vehicle, to prevent collisions at the foremost blind spot.
5. Where practical, the vehicle must have side under-run protection on both sides.
6. Audible warnings for left turns – or for right turns on left-hand drive vehicles.
7. External warning signs to alert other road users to the various hazards around the vehicle. Where possible, these signs should be at least A3 size.

What Is My HGV’s DVS Star Rating?

If you don’t know your HGV’s current star rating, TfL recommends contacting the manufacturer to find out. For this, you will have to provide your vehicle’s chassis number – the VIN. This will allow the manufacturer to calculate your vehicle’s star rating based on the DVS technical protocol. They should send you a letter or an email confirming the results.

Once you have the confirmation document from the manufacturer, you can send it to TfL. They will then update their records within 28 days, after which you can apply for a permit.

You can check your vehicle’s star rating and apply for a new permit online.

Don’t Forget To Tell Your Insurer About Any Modifications You Make To Your Fleet

If you need to install any PSS features to qualify for a new DVS safety permit, you must tell your insurer. Any modifications you make to your vehicle may affect the price you pay for cover.

At Anthony Jones, we can offer expert risk assessment advice for fleet managers, while advising on the insurance implications of vehicle modifications, and more. For more information on how we can help you and your fleet, get in touch with us on 020 8290 9099 or email us at commercial.motor@anthonyjones.com.