Keeping your London HGV Safety Permit under the Direct Vision Standard
Any lorry over 12 tonnes entering London needs a DVS Safety Permit, and lower-rated vehicles must meet the Progressive Safe System. Here is what to check and record.
If your vehicles ever enter Greater London, the Direct Vision Standard (DVS) and HGV Safety Permit scheme is a compliance area you cannot ignore. Run by Transport for London, it applies to lorries over 12 tonnes and is enforced around the clock across Greater London — and the requirements have tightened, so a permit that was fine a couple of years ago may no longer be.
What changed and why it matters now
Under TfL's scheme, a lorry over 12 tonnes needs a Safety Permit to operate in Greater London, based on a DVS star rating for how much the driver can see directly from the cab. The minimum star rating stepped up over time, and vehicles that fall below it must fit the Progressive Safe System (PSS) — a defined set of safety measures — to keep a permit. TfL guidance describes penalty charges for operating a non-compliant vehicle, so getting this wrong is not just a safety issue but a direct financial one. Because permits and requirements have moving dates, this is worth reviewing now rather than assuming your fleet is still covered.
What operators should check
Check each in-scope vehicle's DVS star rating and whether it meets the current minimum. For any vehicle below the threshold, check that the Progressive Safe System measures are fitted and working — typically things like nearside blind-spot cameras and sensors, moving-off information systems and audible turning warnings, as set out by TfL. Check that each vehicle actually holds a valid permit and note its expiry. If you are buying vehicles, factor DVS rating into the purchase decision.
Records and evidence to keep
Keep a register of your in-scope vehicles, their DVS ratings, permit status and expiry dates, and evidence that PSS equipment has been fitted and is maintained. Because the safety equipment is only useful if it works, keep it within your defect-reporting net: a broken nearside camera or sensor is a defect that affects compliance, so it should be reported, repaired and recorded like any other.
The process to improve
The process to build is a simple permit-and-equipment watch: know which vehicles are in scope, keep their permits current, and treat DVS safety equipment as maintained kit rather than fit-and-forget. Tie the safety devices into your walkaround and defect routine so a driver reporting a faulty camera triggers a repair before the vehicle is sent into London non-compliant.
HauliK lets drivers report faults from their phone and keeps permit-relevant equipment within the same defect and maintenance trail as the rest of the vehicle, so a failed DVS camera or sensor is captured, actioned and evidenced — helping you avoid sending a vehicle into London with safety kit that is not working.
Frequently asked questions
Which vehicles need a DVS Safety Permit? TfL's scheme applies to lorries over 12 tonnes operating in Greater London. Check the current scope and requirements on the TfL website, which is the authoritative source.
What is the Progressive Safe System? It is a defined set of safety measures that lower-rated vehicles must fit to keep a permit — for example nearside cameras and sensors, moving-off information systems and audible warnings. Confirm the current list with TfL.
Is the scheme enforced at night? TfL describes the permit scheme as operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week, within Greater London.
What happens if a vehicle is non-compliant? TfL guidance describes penalty charges for operating a non-compliant in-scope vehicle. Check the current penalty details on the TfL website.
Related pages
Sources & further reading
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