HGV MOT changes in 2026: what operators need to know

Heavy vehicle testing is becoming more digital, and several DVSA process changes introduced during 2026 affect how UK operators prepare vehicles, receive official notices and access important documents.

The changes do not replace the fundamentals of roadworthiness. Operators still need effective daily checks, defect reporting, preventive maintenance and annual testing.

But they do change some of the details that transport managers, fleet administrators and maintenance providers need to understand.

This guide explains the main HGV testing changes introduced in 2026, what they mean in practice and what operators should check within their own systems.

What changed in heavy vehicle testing during 2026?

DVSA announced several changes affecting heavy vehicle testing and related administration:

• visual checks of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, known as ADAS
• PG10 prohibition clearance notices moving to email
• easier online access to HGV plating certificates
• updates to the HGV MOT inspection manual

Not every change directly affects whether a vehicle passes or fails its annual test. Some are intended to improve the information DVSA collects or make official documents easier for operators to receive.

The practical message is simple: vehicle technology, official communication and maintenance records are becoming increasingly digital.

Visual ADAS checks began in February 2026

From 2 February 2026, DVSA assessors began carrying out visual checks of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems on heavy vehicles.

ADAS can include technologies such as:

• lane departure warning systems
• automatic emergency braking
• blind spot information systems
• cameras and radar sensors
• driver warning indicators
• other collision avoidance or driver assistance features

During the current stage, DVSA says assessors are visually checking relevant sensors, cameras and warning indicators.

They may look for:

• sensors or cameras that are insecure
• visible damage
• dirt or objects obstructing a sensor
• ADAS-related malfunction warning lights
• signs that a system may not be operating correctly

However, DVSA has stated that these checks are currently visual and are not yet part of the annual test result.

That distinction matters. Operators should not describe the change as a new ADAS pass-or-fail section of the HGV MOT unless DVSA changes the official inspection requirements in the future.

Why ADAS condition still matters

Even when a visual ADAS observation does not currently determine the MOT result, a damaged or obstructed safety system should not be ignored.

A warning light, damaged camera or displaced sensor may indicate that the system is not available when the driver expects it to operate.

Problems can appear after:

• windscreen replacement
• collision repairs
• mirror replacement
• body or bumper repairs
• pressure washing around sensors
• accidental damage during loading
• modifications or accessory installation

Some systems may also need calibration after repair or component replacement.

Operators should make sure drivers and maintenance providers understand that sensors and cameras are safety-related equipment. A fault should be recorded, assessed and dealt with through the normal defect and maintenance process.

Should ADAS be included in the daily walkaround check?

Drivers should follow the current official DVSA walkaround guidance and the operator’s approved check procedure.

Where a vehicle has visible cameras, sensors or system warning indicators, it is sensible for the check process to help drivers identify obvious problems such as:

• damaged equipment
• loose sensors
• obstructed cameras
• warning lights displayed on the dashboard
• equipment that appears to have been moved or interfered with

The driver is not expected to perform a technical calibration or diagnose complex electronics during a walkaround check.

Their role is to identify visible problems and warning indications so that a competent person can assess the vehicle.

A digital walkaround check system can help the office receive that information quickly, particularly when a driver adds notes or photographic evidence.

PG10 prohibition clearance notices are moving to email

A PG10 is used in connection with clearing a prohibition after the necessary action has been taken and the vehicle has met the required conditions.

DVSA announced that PG10 prohibition clearance notices would move to email from February 2026.

The notice is sent to the operator email address linked to the vehicle through the Vehicle Operator Licensing system.

This makes the accuracy of the operator’s contact information particularly important.

An old email address, an inbox that nobody checks or an address belonging to a former employee could delay access to an important notice.

Operators should confirm that:

• the email address recorded in the licensing system is current
• the mailbox is monitored regularly
• more than one responsible person can access important compliance messages
• DVSA emails are not being sent to spam or automatically deleted
• relevant notices are saved within the vehicle or compliance record

Do not rely on one person remembering to forward every message manually.

Official correspondence should form part of a defined transport office process.

How digital notices should be managed

Receiving a notice by email is faster than waiting for paper, but it can also create a different record-keeping risk.

An email can be:

• overlooked
• deleted accidentally
• left in a personal inbox
• difficult to locate months later
• disconnected from the related vehicle and repair evidence

When a digital notice is received, the transport office should link it to the relevant vehicle and incident.

The supporting record may include:

• the original prohibition
• inspection or roadside documents
• defect details
• repair invoices
• workshop records
• test or clearance evidence
• the PG10 notice
• the date the vehicle returned to service
• the person who authorised the return to service

This creates a complete evidence trail instead of a collection of unrelated emails and attachments.

Read our guide to Vehicle Off Road status for more information about grounding vehicles and documenting the return-to-service process.

HGV plating certificates can be accessed online

DVSA has also promoted easier online access to heavy vehicle plating certificates.

Operators can access available certificates through the GOV.UK MOT history service and download or print them without requesting a paid replacement through the previous process.

This can be useful when:

• a paper certificate has been lost
• a certificate has been damaged
• the office needs another copy
• a maintenance provider needs the document
• records are being reorganised or digitised

Operators should still confirm that the information shown is correct and that the certificate relates to the correct vehicle.

Registration changes, vehicle alterations or incomplete DVSA records can sometimes create problems with documents appearing correctly.

Where information is missing or incorrect, follow the latest DVSA guidance rather than creating or modifying a document internally.

What is a plating certificate?

An HGV plating certificate records important technical and permitted-weight information for the vehicle.

Depending on the vehicle, this can include details such as:

• vehicle identity
• gross vehicle weight
• axle weights
• train weight
• permitted configuration information

The plating certificate is not the same thing as a maintenance inspection record or an annual test certificate.

Each document serves a different purpose and should be stored clearly within the vehicle file.

A good fleet document management process should make it easy to identify the current document rather than leaving staff to search through old downloads and email attachments.

Check the current HGV MOT inspection manual

DVSA maintains the official HGV MOT inspection manual, and the online manual can change when testing standards or procedures are updated.

Transport managers do not need to memorise every section.

However, the people responsible for vehicle preparation should use the current version rather than an old downloaded copy or an outdated workshop checklist.

This is particularly important for:

• maintenance providers
• in-house technicians
• staff preparing vehicles for annual test
• operators managing specialist vehicles
• businesses fitting aftermarket equipment
• vehicles with newer safety systems

A preparation checklist is useful, but it should support the official inspection standards rather than replace them.

What should operators do now?

A practical response to the 2026 changes does not require rebuilding the entire compliance system.

Start with these actions:

1. Confirm that the operator email address held in the licensing system is current and monitored.
2. Check how PG10 and other official digital notices are saved and assigned to vehicle records.
3. Tell drivers to report visible damage, obstruction or dashboard warnings involving ADAS equipment.
4. Confirm that maintenance providers understand the relevant systems fitted to each vehicle.
5. Review whether inspection forms can record ADAS-related observations where appropriate.
6. Check that plating certificates and annual test documents are accessible for each vehicle.
7. Make sure staff use the current online HGV MOT inspection manual.
8. Record any repairs, inspections and return-to-service decisions clearly.

The objective is not simply to prepare a vehicle for one annual test.

It is to maintain an evidence trail showing that roadworthiness is controlled throughout the year.

Do the changes affect your PMI schedule?

The 2026 testing changes do not remove or replace the operator’s preventive maintenance responsibilities.

Annual testing and periodic maintenance inspections serve different purposes.

The annual test assesses the vehicle against the applicable testing standards at a particular point in time. A periodic maintenance inspection forms part of the operator’s ongoing preventive maintenance system.

Operators must continue to:

• follow their declared inspection intervals
• act on defects promptly
• retain inspection and repair records
• monitor recurring problems
• ensure vehicles are roadworthy whenever they are used

A vehicle passing its MOT does not prove that the maintenance system is effective for the rest of the year.

Digital processes still need human responsibility

Moving notices and documents online can make compliance administration faster.

But digital delivery does not guarantee that somebody has read a notice, completed a repair or reviewed a warning.

A reliable system should make responsibility clear:

• Who checks the compliance inbox?
• Who reviews driver-reported faults?
• Who decides whether a vehicle must be taken out of service?
• Who confirms that repairs are complete?
• Who signs the vehicle back into service?
• Where is the supporting evidence stored?

HauliK helps UK transport teams organise vehicle records, walkaround checks, defects, maintenance information and compliance evidence in one system.

It does not replace the operator, transport manager, maintenance provider or official DVSA guidance. The operator remains responsible for ensuring every vehicle is safe and legally operated.

Frequently asked questions

Are ADAS checks now part of the HGV MOT result?

DVSA stated that the checks introduced in February 2026 are currently visual and are not yet part of the annual test result. DVSA is using the checks to gather information and may change testing requirements in the future.

Operators should check the latest official inspection manual for any later updates.

Can an HGV fail because an ADAS warning light is on?

The 2026 DVSA announcement says the new ADAS observations are currently not part of the annual test result. However, a warning light may indicate a genuine safety or equipment fault that should be assessed through the operator’s normal defect and maintenance process.

Other defects associated with the vehicle may still affect the test under existing inspection standards.

Where will the PG10 email be sent?

DVSA says the email is sent to the operator email address linked to the vehicle in the Vehicle Operator Licensing system.

Operators should check that this address is correct and actively monitored.

Can plating certificates be downloaded for free?

DVSA says available HGV plating certificates can be downloaded and printed through the GOV.UK MOT history service without paying for a replacement.

Where a certificate is missing or vehicle information is incorrect, operators should follow the official DVSA guidance.

Does an MOT replace a PMI?

No. The annual MOT test and periodic maintenance inspections are separate parts of vehicle roadworthiness management. Passing an annual test does not remove the need for scheduled PMIs, daily checks, defect reporting and repairs.

Final takeaway

The biggest change is not one new test item.

It is the continuing shift towards connected vehicle technology, digital official communication and online compliance records.

Operators who keep contact details current, inspect safety equipment properly and maintain organised vehicle records will be better prepared as testing processes continue to evolve.

This article provides general information for UK transport operators and is not legal or compliance advice. Requirements and testing standards can change. Always check the latest GOV.UK and DVSA guidance and confirm requirements with your transport manager, maintenance provider or compliance adviser.