Before you can follow the drivers’ hours rules you need to know which rules you come under. There are three sets of rules a goods driver in the UK may be working to:
1) The assimilated rules – formerly known as the EU Drivers’ Hours rules. These are the main drivers’ hours rules and they apply to most goods vehicles of over 3.5 tonnes.
2) The GB domestic rules – these generally apply when your vehicle or operation is exempt from the assimilated rules.
3) The AETR rules – these apply on journeys to or through certain countries outside the EU.
*If you are not 100% sure then make sure you follow the main rules and speak to the DVSA to clarify your legal position.
Which Rules Apply To You?
Over 3.5 tonnes – If the maximum permissible weight of your vehicle (including any trailer) is over 3.5 tonnes, and you drive in the UK or between the UK and the EU, the assimilated rules apply to you. This means the plated weight, not the actual physical weight. It does not matter whether the vehicle is loaded or empty.
Vans over 2.5 tonnes – From 1 July 2026 the rules also apply to vans and other light goods vehicles of over 2.5 tonnes, but ONLY when carrying goods for hire and reward on international journeys between the UK and the EU.
*I.e. A 3 tonne van which only ever works in Great Britain is not caught by these rules. Take the same van on a paid delivery job to France and it is.
*A van of this size carrying your own company’s goods is exempt, as long as driving is not your main job. A good example would be an engineer taking their own tools and parts to a job abroad.
Who Is Exempt From The Drivers’ Hours Rules?
The following vehicles are exempt from the assimilated rules, both within the UK and on journeys between the UK and the EU:
- Vehicles not capable of exceeding 40 km per hour, including those held to that speed by a set speed limiter.
- Vehicles used by the Armed Forces, civil defence services, fire services and forces responsible for maintaining public order. This does not apply to commercial operators contracted by these bodies.
- Vehicles used in emergencies or rescue operations, including the non-commercial transport of humanitarian aid.
- Specialised vehicles used for medical purposes, such as mobile health screening units.
- Specialised breakdown vehicles operating within 100 km of their base.
- Vehicles undergoing road tests for technical development, repair or maintenance, and new or rebuilt vehicles which have not yet been put into service. This does NOT cover driving to or from an annual test.
- Vehicles of not more than 7.5 tonnes used for the non-commercial carriage of goods, for example moving house or transporting your own horses.
- Historic commercial vehicles (over 25 years old) used for the non-commercial carriage of goods.
- Vehicles of not more than 7.5 tonnes used to carry materials, equipment or machinery for the driver’s use in the course of their work, or to deliver goods produced on a craft basis. See the conditions below.
- Vans of over 2.5 tonnes but not more than 3.5 tonnes carrying goods on the company’s or the driver’s own account, where driving is not the driver’s main activity.
- Vehicles used by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution.
- Vehicles manufactured before 1 January 1947.
- Vehicles propelled by steam.
The tools of the trade exemption – This is the one which causes the most confusion. To use it ALL of the following must apply: the vehicle is not more than 7.5 tonnes, you stay within 100 km of base, driving is not your main activity, and the transport is not for hire or reward. A good example would be an electrician or builder who works locally and only uses the vehicle to carry their own tools and materials.
National Exemptions – UK Journeys Only
The following exemptions are specific to the UK. They apply ONLY while the journey is wholly within the UK:
- Vehicles used by agricultural, horticultural, forestry, farming or fishery businesses to carry their own goods within 100 km of base. For fishery this only covers live fish, or a catch being moved from landing to first processing.
- Agricultural and forestry tractors used within 100 km of base.
- Vehicles carrying live animals between a farm and a market, or from a market to a slaughterhouse, where the distance is not more than 100 km.
- Vehicles carrying animal waste or carcasses which are not intended for human consumption.
- Vehicles used for milk collection from farms, or for returning milk containers or milk products intended for animal feed.
- Vehicles used in connection with sewerage, flood protection, water, gas and electricity maintenance, road maintenance and control, door-to-door household refuse collection, telephone services and radio or television broadcasting.
- Royal Mail vehicles of not more than 7.5 tonnes used within 100 km of base, where driving is not the driver’s main activity.
- Vehicles of not more than 7.5 tonnes propelled by gas or electricity and used within 100 km of base.
- Zero emission goods vehicles of over 3.5 tonnes but not more than 4.25 tonnes. This one applies in Great Britain only, not Northern Ireland.
- Vehicles used for ambulance services or to carry blood, organs, medical supplies or staff for the NHS.
- Vehicles used by local authorities to provide services for elderly or disabled people.
- Vehicles used by HM Coastguard and lighthouse authorities.
- Vehicles used for maintaining railways (Network Rail for example) and for maintaining navigable waterways (the Canal & River Trust).
- Vehicles used for driving instruction and examination, including Driver CPC training, provided they are not carrying a commercial load.
- Mobile project vehicles used as an educational facility when stationary, such as play buses and mobile libraries.
- Specialised vehicles transporting circus and funfair equipment.
- Vehicles used exclusively inside ports, airports and railway terminals.
- Vehicles operating exclusively on islands of not more than 2,300 square kilometres which are not linked to the rest of Great Britain by a bridge, ford or tunnel.
*This list is to be used as a guide, not a hard and fast rule. Many of these exemptions carry further conditions and some have been tested in court. It is your responsibility to ensure you comply with the correct regulations for your operation.
If You Are Exempt – The GB Domestic Rules
Being exempt does NOT mean there are no rules. Should your operation be exempt from the assimilated rules, you will usually find that you are instead operating under the GB domestic rules. See an overview of these rules below:
- Daily Driving Limit – 10 hours
- Daily Duty Limit – 11 hours
- A driver can be exempt from the daily duty limit if they drive less than 4 hours per day. But this must be the case on all days that week. Should just one day contain more than 4 hours of driving, the duty limit will apply.
- There is no weekly limitation under the domestic rules, however the working time limitations must be taken into consideration.
Records must still be kept under the domestic rules, however you do not necessarily have to use the tachograph. Alternatively you may use a written weekly record sheet.
Driving Beyond The EU – The AETR Rules
If your journey goes to or through a country outside the EU which has signed the AETR agreement (Turkey or Ukraine for example), the AETR rules apply to the whole journey, including any EU countries you pass through.
The AETR rules are in most respects the same as the main rules. The driving, break and daily rest limits are the same. The main differences are that the national exemptions above do not apply, and some of the newer concessions (such as 2 reduced weekly rests in a row) are not available.
More On The Drivers’ Hours Rules
- Drivers' Hours Rules – driving limits, breaks, daily rest and weekly rest.
- Double Manning, Ferries & Night Work – plus out of scope driving.
- Tachographs & Records – the four types of tachograph, driver cards and how many days of records to carry.
- Working Time Rules – the 48 hour average, the 60 hour week and the 6 hour rule.
Download the full Drivers’ Hours Handbook for free here
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If at any point you have questions regarding the drivers’ hours rules, please feel free to contact the office by calling 0191 491 5032.