DVSA earned recognition: vehicle operator standards
The standards that vehicle operators need to meet to join the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) earned recognition scheme.
Updates to this page
- From:
- Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency
- Published:
- 20 July 2020
- Last updated:
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8 December 2025
Show all updates
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Updated contact details for courses approved by DVSA on TfL Contractual Requirements audit standards: DVSA earned recognition.
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Added new courses approved by DVSA to TfL Contractual Requirements audit standards: DVSA earned recognition.
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Added lists of courses approved by DVSA to TfL Contractual Requirements audit standards: DVSA earned recognition.
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The Guild of British Coach Operators module is now the PSV Private Hire module. New requirements have been added to this module.
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Updated Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operator audit standards and Public service vehicle (PSV) operator standards. EU rules for drivers' hours have been replaced with assimilated rules for drivers' hours.
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Updated training course requirements of TfL Contractual Requirements audit standards: DVSA earned recognition.
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Updated all assessment criteria tables in Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operator audit standards: DVSA earned recognition and Public service vehicle (PSV) operator standards: DVSA earned recognition.
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Updated section 3.12 of Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operator audit standards: DVSA earned recognition. Updated section 3.12 of Public service vehicle (PSV) operator standards: DVSA earned recognition. Updated the TfL Contractual Requirements audit standards: DVSA earned recognition. Updates include: - updated section 3 - this section is now 'HGV drivers (including Powered Light Vehicles (PLVs) vans or other Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs)) mandatory courses' - updated section 4 - this section is now 'Managers or responsible person mandatory courses' - added a new section 5. 'Staff travel' - updated section 6. 'Improve emissions performance to reduce negative environmental impact' - added a new section 7. 'Fleet transition' - updated section 'Training requirements for TfL Contractual Requirements' module
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London Power Tunnels (LPT2) audit standards: DVSA earned recognition: Updated section "Important note" to show that there are now 10 sections in the HSV and PSV standards instead of 9.
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HS2 module audit standards - updated 'Important note' to reflect that there is now a section 10 in the audit standards. Public service vehicle (PSV) operator standards - removed 'if an operator carried out dangerous goods activities (ADR), then at least one ADR centre will be part of the audit' from the earned recognition audit sampling criteria.
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Updated section 3 'Terms and conditions' in the Guild of British Coach Operators audit standards: DVSA earned recognition standards. Removed a point from subsection 3.2 as this is no longer a condition of hire.
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Added audit standards for new Concrete Operational module.
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Updated the Important Note section in the TfL Contractual Requirements audit standards: DVSA earned recognition attachment - added a list of types of contract operators can bid for when they have passed this module.
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Added audit standards for new The Guild of British Coach Operators module.
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Added audit standards for new TfL Contractual Requirements module.
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HS2 module audit standards: DVSA earned recognition: Added new section 'Use a sign when you visit an HS2 site (HS2 module operators only)' about purchasing HS2 site signs.
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Updated audit standards for heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs).
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Updated criteria 3.10.3 in 'Heavy goods vehicle (HGV) operator audit standards: DVSA earned recognition' and 'Public service vehicle (PSV) operator standards: DVSA earned recognition' because operators can use manual maintenance systems from 1 April 2022.
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Added audit standards for new London Power Tunnels (LPT2) module.
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Replaced PDF versions of audit standards with HTML versions
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First published.
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Applies to England, Scotland and Wales
Documents
Details
These documents are for vehicle operators and DVSA earned recognition auditors. The documents show:
- the standards you need to meet
- how you’ll be assessed
- the evidence you’ll need