Free tool
Financial standing calculator
Enter your licence type and fleet to see exactly how much money the Traffic Commissioner expects you to show, line by line.
A standard operator licence needs £8,000 for the first vehicle and £4,500 for each further vehicle; a restricted licence £3,100 and £1,700. These are the 2026 rates.
Calculator
Financial standing you must show
£17,000
| Part | Vehicles | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| First heavy goods vehicle£8,000 each | 1 | £8,000 |
| Each further heavy goods vehicle£4,500 each | 2 | £9,000 |
| Total | £17,000 | |
Standard licence: £8,000 for the first vehicle and £4,500 for each further vehicle; light goods vehicles £800 each (£1,600 for the first when there are no HGVs). This is money available to the business, shown as an average balance, not a fee.
Check an existing licence
Enter a licence number to fill in the calculator from the DVSA operator licence data and see the margin between vehicles authorised and vehicles specified.
How it works
- Pick goods or PSV and the licence type. Standard licences (national or international) use the higher rate; restricted licences the lower one.
- Enter every vehicle you want authorised. The first vehicle costs more; each further vehicle adds a fixed amount. On a goods standard international licence, light goods vehicles have their own rate.
- Read the total. That is the average balance your evidence must show, held in the licence holder’s own name (for a company, inside the company).
Frequently asked questions
How much financial standing do I need for an operator licence in 2026?
For a standard goods or PSV licence: £8,000 for the first vehicle and £4,500 for each further vehicle. For a restricted licence: £3,100 for the first vehicle and £1,700 for each further vehicle. Light goods vehicles on a standard international licence count £800 each, or £1,600 for the first when there are no heavy vehicles.
Is financial standing a fee?
No. GOV.UK says it is not a fee but money that must be available to the business for as long as it holds the licence. You show it with bank statements, an agreed overdraft or similar evidence in the licence holder's own name.
Do the financial standing rates change every year?
No. Since 1 January 2021 the amounts are fixed in pounds in legislation. They change only if the law changes, so the 2026 figures are the same as 2025.
What evidence of financial standing do I need?
Statements for the last 28 days for a new application, with the last balance no more than two months old. Traffic commissioners use the average balance. Existing operators are normally asked for about three months of evidence.
Do I need money for vehicles I do not run yet?
Yes. You must show enough for every vehicle you want authorised on the licence, not only the ones you run today.
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Figures and wording from GOV.UK, checked 1 October 2026: