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Most commercial vehicles must be tested every year to make sure they鈥檙e roadworthy and follow regulations. This is known as the annual test.

As well as the annual test, your HGV must be tested if you want to be able to:

• carry explosives or dangerous goods in bulk - this is known as the ADR test
• take goods vehicles outside the EU - this is known as the TIR test
• 鈥榰prate鈥� or 鈥榙ownrate鈥� your vehicle to change the weight it鈥檚 allowed to carry
• qualify for a Low Emissions Certificate (LEC)

The ADR is a specialist test for vehicles carrying dangerous or hazardous goods in bulk by road.

Your vehicle must pass an ADR test if it鈥檚 a commercial vehicle or a trailer used to carry explosives, or if it鈥檚 used in the UK or abroad:

• to carry dangerous goods in a fixed tank, demountable tank or fixed battery of pressure vessels of over 1,000 litres capacity
• for carrying dangerous goods in a container or portable tank or battery of pressure vessels of over 3,000 litres capacity

The test varies depending on the type of goods you want to carry.

How to book a test and what it costs

1. Complete the application for an ADR test.

2. Say on the form if the vehicle is to be tested while still carrying dangerous goods (or their residue) - DVSA will make arrangements for this.

3. Include copies of insurance certificates (originals will need to be seen at the test) for fixed tanks, batteries and pressure vessels.

Send your application at least 10 days before you want to take the test.

You can submit your form online or post it to:

Vehicles and trailers need individual certification, so an articulated or drawbar combination will need 2 ADR applications - one for the vehicle and one for the trailer. You have to pay a fee for each part.

Fees for ADR testing and certification

The fees listed are in addition to the standard annual test fee.

DVSA service	Fee
Initial inspection	拢116
Re-inspection within 14 days	拢63
Replacement certificate	拢14
New type approved artic tractor certificate	拢28

Taking your vehicle to the test

The exception is for vehicles loaded with UN1202 diesel, gas or heating oil where there鈥檚 also no residue of other flammable materials in tank vapour spaces.

If a dangerous goods vehicle is taken to the test uncleaned or not purged, or is laden with dangerous goods, DVSA will need to see evidence that the vehicle is accompanied by a person with an appropriate ADR driver鈥檚 licence.

You鈥檒l need to submit form VTG15 to the testing station to show if your vehicle is carrying or has been carrying dangerous goods.

Getting a re-inspection after a failed test

If you fail the test, phone the testing station you used to arrange another inspection.

New goods vehicle tractor units that have 鈥�ADR-type approval鈥�

If you buy a new tractor unit, ask your vehicle supplier if it has been built to an 鈥�ADR-type approval鈥�. This means you can get ADR-type certification for it. The manufacturer should supply a combined Declaration of Conformity and application form ADR IIIA, which you can then send to DVSA.

Get a replacement ADR certificate

You can apply for a replacement ADR certificate if you have lost the original, or need to change the owner or address.

Apply online

Download and complete the form and submit it to DVSA.

Apply by post

Print out and complete the form and post it to:

Change of ADR category

If you want a new certificate because there鈥檚 been a change of ADR category contact DVSA for advice.

The TIR system allows UK customs officials to pack and seal goods before they鈥檙e transported outside the EU. This means that the load will not need to be opened and inspected by customs officials at border crossings.

To meet the TIR requirements your vehicle must pass a test to make sure that:

• nothing can be put into or taken from the vehicle without it being obvious
• the goods compartment is built so that it has to be accessed from both inside and outside to be removed and replaced

Book a TIR test

There are 2 ways to get vehicles approved. You can either:

• get individual vehicles approved by having each one inspected
• get a design approved for a series of vehicles

Get individual vehicles approved

Fill in an application to book an individual vehicle inspection and pay the fee. You need to fill in a form and pay a fee for each vehicle you want to be approved.

The TIR test certificate lasts for 2 years from the date it鈥檚 issued. You then need to book another inspection every 2 years to keep the vehicle approved. You have to fill in the inspection form and pay the fee each time.

Fee type	Cost
Initial inspection for an individual vehicle	拢106
Two-yearly inspection for an individual vehicle	拢106
Re-inspection for an individual vehicle after a failed test	拢70

Fees may be different in

Get a design approved for a series of vehicles

Fill in an application to get a vehicle load compartment design approved and pay the fee.

After the design is approved, you have to apply for a 鈥榗ertificate of conformity鈥� for each vehicle made to that design. You have to pay a fee for each vehicle. DVSA will inspect a sample of the vehicles.

The certificate lasts for 2 years from the date it鈥檚 issued. You then need to book an inspection for each vehicle made to the design every 2 years to keep them approved. You have to pay the inspection fee each time.

Fee type	Cost
Approval of a design for a series of vehicles	拢644
Certificate of conformity for each vehicle made to the design	拢14
Two-yearly inspection for each vehicle made to the design	拢106
Re-inspection for a vehicle after a failed test	拢70
Make a change to an approved design	拢106
Replacement certificate of conformity	拢14

Fees may be different in

Where you can get the vehicle tested

Call DVSA to find out where you can have it done.

Cancelling a test

You鈥檒l need to give at least 3 days notice to cancel an inspection. Otherwise the fee won鈥檛 be refunded.

You can apply to increase the maximum permitted weight your lorry can carry.

This is known as:

• 鈥榰p-plating鈥� if no physical changes have been made to the design
• 鈥榰prating鈥� if the design has been modified

You鈥檒l get a new plate to show the change in permitted weight.

You鈥檒l have to pay a higher rate of vehicle tax if up-plating or uprating puts you in a higher vehicle tax band.

Downplating and downrating

You can also 鈥榙ownplate鈥� your lorry or 鈥榙ownrate鈥� it. This reduces the maximum weight it can work at and will lower its rate of vehicle tax.

Your vehicle will be inspected by DVSA if it has been uprated or downrated before it鈥檚 issued with new plates at the new weights.

Up-plated and downplated lorries are not usually inspected, but downplated vehicles might have to pass an official weight test before DVSA issues a new plate.

Apply to replate your lorry

You can apply online or by post. You鈥檒l need to pay 拢27.

You can get your vehicle tested for a Low Emissions Certificate (LEC). This lets you drive in the (LEZ) without paying.

Eligibility

Your vehicle can be tested for a Low Emissions Certificate if it:

• was registered in the UK before 1 October 2006
• is fitted with a full filter to

Converted and re-engined vehicles

Contact DVLA if the vehicle has either:

• been fitted or converted to run solely on petrol
• had an approved gas conversion

Contact Transport for London (TfL) if your vehicle has been 鈥榬e-engined鈥� to meet Low Emission Zone standards.

Book a Low Emissions Certificate test

Contact an authorised testing facility or Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) test station to book the test.

You need:

• your vehicle registration number
• your vehicle identification or chassis number
• the make, model and date of manufacture
• details of any modifications made to meet the emissions standard
• to pay the fee

What to take to the test

If it鈥檚 been tested before you must take the vehicle鈥檚 previous Low Emissions Certificate or Reduced Pollution Certificate.

The test can be cancelled and you鈥檒l have to pay again if you do not take the certificate.

What happens at the test

The test is in 2 parts:

• physical inspection to check any modifications, such as a filter fitted to the exhaust
• smoke opacity test to check emissions

Test result

You鈥檒l get a Low Emissions Certificate if your vehicle passes the test.

DVSA will pass your details to TfL automatically. You cannot drive in the Low Emission Zone until your details have been updated - it takes around 3 days.

If your vehicle fails

You can appeal the result. Fill in form LEC3 and send it to DVSA. The address is on the form.

Renewing a Low Emissions Certificate

The Low Emissions Certificate has an expiry date on it. You need to get your vehicle tested again by this date if you want to continue driving in the Low Emission Zone without paying.