About our services

We have service level agreements and service standards for the different services that we provide.


Driving tests

We aim to:

  • give you a theory test appointment at your preferred centre within 2 weeks of your preferred date
  • give you a driving test appointment within 6 weeks of your preferred date

MOT tests for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), buses and trailers

We aim to keep 98% of confirmed reservations for our vehicle standards assessors to be at authorised testing facilities.

Vehicle operator and local bus service applications

We aim to process:

  • applications for goods and public service vehicle operator licences where a public inquiry is not held, within 35 working days
  • 95% of complete applications to register, vary or cancel local bus service registrations within 5 working days of getting the application and fee

When you contact us, we will:

  • be polite, professional and treat you with respect
  • listen to your needs
  • give you clear and accurate information
  • adhere to the Civil Service code

Customer support

We aim to:

  • answer 50% of telephone calls within 120 seconds
  • respond to enquiries and complaints within 10 working days

When you contact us, we will:

  • be polite, professional and treat you with respect
  • listen to your needs
  • give you clear and accurate information
  • adhere to the Civil Service code

 Vehicle approval, specialist tests and schemes

We aim to process applications within 10 working days of getting a completed application for:

  • Individual Vehicle Approval
  • an HGV’s first plating certificate

We aim to process applications within 5 working days for:

  • ADR tests to allow a vehicle to carry dangerous or hazardous goods by road
  • heavy goods vehicle first tests, changing plated details or notifiable alterations
  • PSV certificates of initial fitness and notifications of alternations or authentications
  • PSV Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) accessibility type approval certificates
  • replacement documents
  • permission to supply a large goods trailer for use on the road

Emails, letters and requests for information

We aim to respond to:

  • official correspondence (letters passed to us by ministers) within 20 working days
  • all ministerial correspondence within 8 working days
  • all Parliamentary questions within their due date
  • Freedom of Information requests within 20 working days

Doing business with us

When you do business with us, we aim to pay invoices within 5 working days.