What the DVSA’s Updated “Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness” means for your fleet

 

The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) falls under the Department for Transport and is responsible for ensuring road safety in the UK by maintaining laws and standards for drivers, vehicles, and vehicle operators. 

 

 

What does the DVSA regulate?

• Driving tests.
• Driving instructors and testers.
• Road safety regulation enforcement.
• Licensing for companies that operate goods vehicles, buses, and coaches. 
• Driver courses and training.

 

And more.

 

 

What is the DVSA’s “Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness”? 

The "Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness" is the result of a collaboration between the DVSA and key industry stakeholders to best explain the responsibilities (such as daily checks, inspections, maintenance, and record keeping) and regulations involved in keeping vehicles compliant, regardless of operating conditions, fleet size, or vehicle type.

 

It was first published in April 2014 and most recently updated in April 2025.

 

 

List of summarised changes

The recent updates focus on key areas aimed at improving vehicle safety, compliance, and efficiency for commercial goods and public service vehicle operators. Here’s a breakdown of significant updates:

 

1. Maintaining Compliance (Section 1.1)

• Clarification from Traffic Commissioners that “fit and serviceable” specifications may go beyond MOT standards.
• Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) are now officially within the “means of operation” in braking systems.
• Operators may now use different Alternative Maintenance Systems (AMS) procedures should they prove to be of equivalent or superior compliance.

 

2. Daily Walkaround Checks (Section 3)

• Additional checks throughout the day may be a necessity for vehicles used in off-road or high-wear terrains.
• More flexibility in checks during driver changeovers if a reliable defect reporting solution is in place.
• Refined regulations for traction-only operators, such as inspection records access, MOT certificates, and more.

 

3. Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (Section 5)

• The Maintenance Provision Rating Scheme (MPRS) aims to upgrade industry maintenance practices.
• Further emphasis for workshops to achieve recognised quality standards and accreditation.

 

4. Braking Performance Assessment (Section 5.3)

Every safety inspection must now include a mandatory brake performance assessment consisting of a laden roller brake test to be performed at least four times a year. The performance assessment must include:

• Laden roller brake test (RBT)
• Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS)
• Decelerometer with temperature readings

Where laden brake tests are not viable, risk assessments must be completed by an approved supervisor instead and kept for 15 months.

 

5. EBPMS Parking Brake Assessment (Section 5.4)

The introduction of a new five-step process for verifying parking brake performance using EBPMS.

 

 

Implications for Operators

Recent updates mean fleet operators must update their Vehicle Operator Licensing records to reflect changes in inspection frequency and maintenance procedures.

 

Additionally, the new focus on ADAS, EBPMS, brake testing impacts driver and technician training requirements as well as the insistence of adopting electronic maintenance systems that meet DVSA’s audit and data integrity standards.

 

 

Nationwide support that keeps your vehicles safer, longer

All Northgate hire solutions come with service and maintenance included as standard, accessible across our nationwide network of 51 workshops. As part of our promise to help reduce vehicle downtime, we aim to consolidate service events when possible - such as combining servicing with tyre replacement - to keep you on the road and compliant.

More key benefits:

 

• We change tyres at 3mm of tread rather than the standard legal limit of 1.6mm to prioritise safety.
• We replace brake pads at 50% worn during a service to guarantee they last until your next appointment.
• Unlike our competitors, we perform an in-service vehicle check when you visit our workshops for any reason. E.g. tyre replacement.
• We check tow bars and ensure due diligence on all vehicle add-ons to maintain compliance and roadworthiness.

 

 

Keeping your fleet mobile

Our downloadable app is the simplest way to track and complete vehicle inspections - at the touch of a button.

 

The Northgate Vehicle Inspection App easily creates inspection reports with access to a suite of standard reports that you can tailor to your needs – giving you comfort that drivers are checking vehicles when you want them to. Our simple defect-reporting system lets you easily alert your supplier of any faults, allowing you to deal with issues quickly and reduce downtime. Click here to start your 45-day free trial of our Vehicle Inspection App.

 

 

How Northgate takes away your fleet management burden

We provide expert fleet management services to keep your business running smoothly and efficiently, covering everything from vehicle hires and maintenance to compliance and driver safety.

 

The modern fleet manager must wear a lot of hats; the stress and burden can be a lot to bear. We can help take that away. Our flexible, account-managed solutions alleviate administrative burdens, helping you reduce costs, improve safety, and free up time so you can focus on your core business.

 

Plus, our team of specialist EV consultants are here to guide you through your EV transition and help you achieve your sustainability goals with expert support at every stage.