Guidance
Running a vehicle recovery business: driver and vehicle safety rules
Rules that vehicle recovery operators and drivers need to follow to run their business legally and safely.
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Details
This guide sets out the rules that you need to follow if you run a vehicle recovery business or drive a vehicle to recover other vehicles.
It includes rules about:
- vehicle operator licences
- drivers’ hours
- keeping your vehicle safe to drive
- vehicle weights
- other licences you might need
- equipment you might need
Updates to this page
Published 3 July 2013Last updated 19 February 2025 + show all updates
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Added information to section 8 about when to notify road and bridge authorities when using a heavy recovery vehicle.
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Updated the guidance about annual tests (MOT) to make it clear breakdown recovery vehicles are no longer exempt from the requirements of plating and testing.
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First published.