Guide
Operator licence curtailed, suspended or revoked: what it means
What curtailment, suspension and revocation of an operator licence mean, how to spot them on the register, and what to do if a haulier you use is hit.
A curtailed operator licence still works, but a traffic commissioner has cut it back: fewer vehicles, an operating centre removed or new conditions. A suspended licence stays in force, but no vehicle may be used under it for a set time. A revoked licence has ended. The holder must stop operating and may also be disqualified.
These actions apply to goods and passenger (PSV) licences alike. Each shows up differently in the DVSA open data, and revocation shows up as an absence. This guide covers Great Britain only. Northern Ireland runs a separate system.
The three sanctions in one table
Curtailment reduces what a licence allows, suspension pauses it, and revocation ends it. Disqualification is a separate order against the person or company, not the licence.
| Action | What changes | How long | Can the operator keep working? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Curtailment | Vehicles removed, the vehicle limit cut, an operating centre removed, or conditions added | The rest of the licence's life or a shorter period | Yes, within the reduced authority |
| Suspension | The licence stays in force but "no vehicles are authorised to be used under it" | A set period | No, not under that licence while suspended |
| Revocation | The licence ends | Permanent | No. A new licence needs a new application |
| Disqualification | The person or company may not hold or obtain an operator licence | A set period or indefinitely | No licence while disqualified |
The wording comes from section 26 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 and section 28. The Senior Traffic Commissioner's statutory document summaries put "revocation, disqualification, or extended suspension" in the most severe band.
Curtailment
Curtailment means a traffic commissioner has reduced what the licence allows. The operator can still run vehicles, but fewer of them or under tighter terms.
The Act defines curtailment as a direction to do any of these (s.26(11)):
- remove one or more specified vehicles from the licence
- add certain provisions about vehicles to the licence
- reduce the maximum number of vehicles or trailers authorised
- on a heavy goods vehicle licence, remove one or more operating centres
Curtailment is often time-limited. One published decision reads: "Licence curtailed to allow one vehicle to be specified from 00.01 hours on the 1 January 2026 until 00.01 hours on the 1 February 2026" (a published Traffic Commissioner decision). When a curtailment removes a vehicle, the commissioner can also order that the vehicle may not be used on any other operator's licence for up to 6 months (s.26(6) and (7)).
Suspension
A suspended licence stays in force, but no vehicle may be used under it until the suspension ends. The Act says the licence "remains in force during the time of its suspension subject to the limitation that no vehicles are authorised to be used under it" (s.26(9)).
The commissioner can also order that vehicles specified on a suspended licence may not be used under any other operator's licence, for up to 6 months. A traffic commissioner can cancel or vary a suspension at any time (s.26(8)).
Revocation
Revocation ends the licence. The holder must stop operating, and any future application will be judged with the revocation on record.
A traffic commissioner may revoke on grounds listed in section 26. They include:
- using an operating centre that is not on the licence
- breaking a licence condition or an undertaking recorded on the licence
- relevant convictions or fixed penalties in the last five years, or prohibitions for unfit or overloaded vehicles
- false statements made to get or vary the licence
- bankruptcy or liquidation
- a material change in the circumstances that were relevant when the licence was issued
For a standard licence, revocation is mandatory if the holder no longer meets the core requirements (good repute, financial standing, professional competence, an effective and stable establishment) or the transport manager no longer qualifies (section 27). The commissioner can first set a time limit to put things right: up to 6 months, or 9 months where a transport manager has died or is incapacitated. Since March 2025 the statutory guidance says that if the problem is not fixed within the period of grace, "the commissioner is obliged to revoke the licence" (STC summaries).
Disqualification
Disqualification bars a person or company from holding or getting any operator licence. A traffic commissioner can order it only when revoking a licence (s.28).
Key points from section 28:
- It can last for a set period or indefinitely.
- While it runs, any other licence the person holds is suspended, and no new licence can be issued to them.
- It can extend to the directors of a disqualified company and to partners in a disqualified partnership.
- It can be limited to one or more traffic areas.
- Applying for or getting a licence while disqualified is a criminal offence, and the licence is void.
Transport managers can be disqualified separately, which stops them acting as a transport manager on any licence. See transport manager CPC.
Surrendered and terminated licences
A surrendered licence was given up by its holder. A terminated licence ended automatically. Neither involves a finding against the operator, but the licence has still ended.
The holder can ask a traffic commissioner to end the licence at any time, and the commissioner must agree, unless they are already considering action under section 26 or 27 (s.16(3) and (4)). That rule stops an operator surrendering to dodge a revocation.
A licence terminates automatically when the 5-yearly continuation fee is not paid in time. The statutory guidance says: "Failure to pay on time results in automatic termination of the licence" (STC summaries). A licence held by an individual also terminates if the holder dies (s.16(5)). See continuation.
How each status shows in the open data
The DVSA open data lists only licences that are in force. A licence shows as valid, curtailed or suspended. When a licence is revoked, surrendered or terminated, it drops out of the file.
| Status | What it means | Appears in the DVSA open data? |
|---|---|---|
| Valid | In force, no current restriction | Yes, as lsts_valid |
| Curtailed | In force with reduced authority or extra conditions | Yes, as lsts_curtailed |
| Suspended | In force, but no vehicles may be used under it | Yes, as lsts_suspended |
| Revoked | Ended by a traffic commissioner | No, it drops out of the file |
| Surrendered or terminated | Given up by the holder, or ended automatically (for example, continuation fee not paid) | No, it drops out of the file |
| Not in the DVSA file dated … | HaulierScope's label for a licence that was in an earlier file and is missing from the newest one | Not applicable: the licence is absent |
A missing licence is a signal, not a verdict. HaulierScope never labels a missing licence "revoked". We show it as "not in the DVSA file dated" the newest file date, because the open data does not say why it left. To find the reason, check the weekly Applications and Decisions bulletin for the licence's traffic area:
- Section 5.2: decisions taken at public inquiries
- Section 7: licences surrendered or terminated
- Section 8: licences revoked without a public inquiry
The GOV.UK collection of Applications and Decisions links to all eight areas. Our methodology page explains the source files and how often they change.
How often it happens
Action against a licence is rare. In the DVSA operator licence data, file dated 7 October 2026, 520 of 69,022 licences were curtailed (0.8%) and 16 were suspended. The other 68,486 were valid.
| Status | Goods | PSV | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valid | 63,476 | 5,010 | 68,486 |
| Curtailed | 463 | 57 | 520 |
| Suspended | 14 | 2 | 16 |
Of the 520 curtailed licences, 235 were standard national, 168 restricted and 117 standard international (DVSA operator licence data, file dated 7 October 2026). Run a free operator licence check to see the status of any haulier. Our weekly changes page lists licences that changed status, joined or left the file since the previous DVSA file.
What to do if a haulier you use is curtailed or revoked
Ask what changed and check that the work still fits the licence. A curtailment may only remove spare authority. A suspension or revocation means the haulier cannot legally run lorries under that licence.
- Read the scope. For a curtailment, compare the vehicles now authorised with the lorries the haulier sends you.
- Stop bookings during a suspension. No vehicle may be used under a suspended licence. Ask when the suspension ends and check the status again on that date.
- Treat revocation as the end of that licence. If the haulier says it now trades under another licence, check that licence's number, holder name and status from scratch. See how to vet a haulier.
- Check for an appeal. Revocation, suspension and curtailment can be appealed to the Upper Tribunal within one month. A stay can delay the decision until the appeal is decided (GOV.UK goods licensing guide).
HaulierScope monitoring lets you keep a watchlist and get weekly alerts when a licence on it changes status or drops out of the DVSA file.
Frequently asked questions
Can the Traffic Commissioner revoke your licence?
Yes. Section 26 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 lets a traffic commissioner revoke a licence for broken conditions, relevant convictions, false statements or insolvency, among other grounds. See undertakings and conditions and licences in liquidation or administration. Revocation of a standard licence is mandatory if the operator loses good repute, financial standing or professional competence. The operator can demand a public inquiry first.
What happens if your licence gets revoked?
The licence ends and you must stop operating vehicles that need a licence. The traffic commissioner may also disqualify you, your company's directors or your partners from holding a licence, for a set period or indefinitely. A later application will be judged with the revocation on record. You can appeal to the Upper Tribunal within one month of the decision and ask for a stay while the appeal runs.
How do you check if your license has been revoked?
The operator is told in writing. To check someone else's licence, look in the weekly Applications and Decisions bulletin for its traffic area: Section 5.2 lists public inquiry decisions and Section 8 lists revocations without an inquiry. In the DVSA open data a revoked licence drops out of the file.
Is revoked the same as disqualified?
No. Revocation ends one licence. Disqualification bars the person or company from holding or getting any operator licence, for a set period or indefinitely. A traffic commissioner can only disqualify when revoking a licence, so the two often come together. Disqualification can extend to the directors of a company or the partners in a firm, and it can be limited to certain traffic areas.
How do I surrender an operator's licence?
Ask the traffic commissioner for your traffic area to end the licence. Section 16 of the Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995 says the commissioner must agree, unless they are already considering action against the licence under section 26 or 27. Surrendered licences are listed in Section 7 of Applications and Decisions. Standard international holders must also return the office copy and certified copies of their UK Licence for the Community to DVSA.
About this guide
Written and maintained by the HaulierScope editorial team. We check every fee, amount and rule against GOV.UK and legislation.gov.uk before publishing and when the rules change. Last checked 2 October 2026. HaulierScope is independent and is not part of DVSA or the Office of the Traffic Commissioner. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Read our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Sources
- Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, section 26 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, section 27 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, section 28 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, section 16 (legislation.gov.uk)
- Goods vehicle operator licensing guide (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
- Senior Traffic Commissioner statutory document summaries (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
- A guide to Traffic Commissioner hearings (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
- Traffic Commissioner goods vehicle Applications and Decisions (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
- Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Act 1995, section 29 (legislation.gov.uk)
- UK Licence for the Community for international road haulage (GOV.UK) (source last updated )
- Traffic Commissioners operator licence records (data.gov.uk)
What changed
- : Updated. Status counts now come from the newest DVSA file automatically. Questions answered in other guides now link there.
- : Published. First published.
Register statistics: DVSA operator licence data, file dated 7 October 2026 (see methodology). Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.