Heavy goods vehicles and buses
All heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) over 3,500kg and buses must be tested annually from the first anniversary of registration.
Applying for a vehicle test online - HGVs and buses
For information on how to book an appointment, go to:
Applying by phone
You can also make an appointment by telephone using the booking line:
You cannot make multiple bookings over the phone.
Standing appointments
If your business has a commercial fleet of more than 25 vehicles over 3,500kg, you can arrange standing vehicle test appointments for heavy goods vehicles (HGV) or buses.
You can arrange standing appointments at the link below.
Trailers due a first time test
To book an appointment for trailers due a first time test, you’ll need to contact the booking line:
You can also email customer support using the online booking enquiries email at the link below:
Vehicle test process
You can find detailed information on what happens at each stage of a vehicle test (MOT) at the links below.
Roadside enforcement
The Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) enforcement section is responsible for enforcing a wide range of legislation related to goods vehicles, buses and taxis. They also check private cars and agricultural vehicles.
Further information can be found at:
Further information about drivers' hours and tachographs can be found at:
Operator licensing
If you drive goods vehicles weighing more than 3.5 tonnes, which carry goods as part of a trade or business, you need to have a goods vehicle operator’s licence.
This also applies to light goods vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes which are used to carry goods in the EU.
You can find more information at the link below:
If you’re applying or renewing a bus operator licence (BOL) or making changes to an existing licence, you need to apply online at the link below.
Rules for tyres aged 10 years and older
You can no longer use tyres aged 10 years and older on the front axles of HGV’s, buses and coaches. Or on any axles of minibuses when fitted in single configuration.
To prove the age of a tyre, you will need to make sure that the date it was made is legible on all tyres. This includes re-treaded tyres, where the date of re-treading will be used to decide the age of the tyre. The date can be displayed in any orientation.
The rules apply to all drivers or operators on NI roads, regardless of the country they are registered.
If you use tyres which do not meet these rules, they will fail the annual vehicle test. If this defect is identified elsewhere, for example at the roadside, enforcement action may be taken.
There is an exception for two groups of vehicles:
- agricultural tractors that travel at low speeds
- historic vehicles as long as they are not used commercially
Free Rolling Tyres
Free Rolling Tyres marked FRT are designed for use on the axles of trailers and motor vehicles, other than the front steering and drive axles.
If you have vehicles that are fitted with FRTs on drive axles, they will fail the annual vehicle test. If you have HGVs and passenger carrying vehicles (PSVs) that are fitted with a FRT on the front steering axle they will also fail.