Restricted Licence Holders: Can You Park at Home or on the Street?

If you’re running a small business under a Restricted Operator Licence, you may have wondered:

• Can I park my lorry at home?

• What about leaving it on the street overnight?

• Do I need an official operating centre if I’m only using one vehicle?

These are some of the most common — and most misunderstood — questions among small fleet owners and one-vehicle operators. The answers can be the difference between quiet compliance and a call to Public Inquiry.

Let’s break it all down.

The Basics: What the Law Requires

If you operate a vehicle over 3.5 tonnes gross plated weight (MAM) to carry your own goods for business, you need a Restricted Operator Licence.

Part of that licence is the requirement to have a declared and approved operating centre — a legal parking base for your vehicle(s) when not in use.

This requirement still applies even if you only run one vehicle, and even if that vehicle is only used occasionally.

Can I Park My Vehicle at Home?

✅ Yes — but only under certain conditions:

You can park your vehicle at home if all the following are true:

1. 🏠 Your home address is listed as an Operating Centre on your licence

2. 🚛 The vehicle is parked off the public highway — e.g. driveway, private yard

3. 📣 There have been no complaints about noise or disturbance

4. 🧾 You have planning permission, or it isn’t required

5. ✍️ You’re able to provide documentation to prove all of the above

If you meet those conditions, then home parking is legal and compliant.

But there are risks…

⚠️ Common Issues with Home Parking:

Issue	Risk
Street parking or verge use	Not permitted — can result in enforcement
Obstruction of neighbours	Complaints → DVSA inspection or licence review
Noise during early hours	Could lead to Public Inquiry
Lack of planning permission	Breach of planning law and licence undertakings

What About Parking on the Street?

❌ Street parking is not allowed under operator licensing rules.

Even if:

• It’s outside your house

• There’s no yellow line

• The vehicle fits within legal parking dimensions

…it still does not count as a valid operating centre. Your Operator Licence requires that your vehicle is parked at an approved, declared site — not wherever is convenient.

DVSA can and does issue prohibitions and fines if vehicles are routinely parked:

• On residential streets

• On public verges

• In laybys

• In communal or unallocated parking areas

Case Study: One Man, One Lorry, One Mistake

Operator: Self-employed events supplier with 7.5t box truckParking: Street outside his house in a cul-de-sacLicence: Restricted Operator Licence — declared his house as the operating centreIssue: Neighbour complained to council about noise and visual intrusion

Outcome:

• DVSA inspection

• Found vehicle parked on public highway

• Licence revoked at Public Inquiry due to breach of undertakings

What If I Only Have One Vehicle?

It doesn’t matter — the same rules apply. Whether you operate:

• One 7.5t tipper

• A single Luton with tail lift

• An 18-tonner for moving your own goods

…you still need:

• A declared and approved operating centre

• To park off-street and within the conditions of your licence

• To notify the Traffic Commissioner if your circumstances change

Planning Permission for Home Parking: Do I Need It?

You may need planning permission if:

• Your vehicle is parked regularly at home

• The street or area is residential in nature

• Neighbours can demonstrate noise, nuisance or visual impact

• Your vehicle is a large rigid (e.g. 18t) or tractor unit

Your local council can enforce planning laws independently of DVSA, and issue enforcement notices even if you have an Operator Licence.

Always check with your planning authority first — or get written confirmation that permission isn’t required.

How to Park at Home and Stay Compliant

Action	Why It Matters
Declare your home as the operating centre on your licence	Required by law
Ensure off-street parking on private land	Street parking is non-compliant
Limit noise during unsociable hours	Prevents complaints
Keep the area tidy and safe	Helps maintain goodwill
Check local planning rules	Avoids enforcement conflicts
Respond to any neighbour concerns	Shows good repute

What If I Run Out of Space?

If you no longer have room at home or your current centre:

• Apply to add a new operating centre

• Do not begin parking at a new location until approved

• Don’t assume a friend’s yard is acceptable without applying

Parking overflow is a common trigger for Public Inquiries — especially among Restricted Licence holders who expand without updating their licence.

What If I Park at a Customer Site Overnight?

If this happens occasionally and temporarily, DVSA may not see it as a breach.

But if it’s regular — or becomes your de facto base — then you must:

• Add the customer site as an operating centre

• Obtain written permission to use it

• Notify the Traffic Commissioner

Don’t let occasional parking evolve into non-compliant base use.

FAQs

❓ Can I park in a residential area if it’s my own driveway?

Yes, if it’s declared as your operating centre and there are no planning or nuisance issues.

❓ Do I need a Transport Manager for one vehicle?

Not for a Restricted Licence — but you’re still fully responsible for compliance.

❓ Can I park a 3.5t van at home without a licence?

Yes — only vehicles over 3.5 tonnes MAM require an Operator Licence.

❓ What if neighbours complain about noise?

Engage with them, limit early/late movements, and review your parking location. Repeated complaints can lead to investigation.

❓ Can I use a friend’s yard for now and sort the licence later?

No — you must apply and wait for formal approval before using a new site.

Conclusion

If you're a small fleet or single-vehicle operator, it can be tempting to park wherever is convenient. But under a Restricted Operator Licence, your parking location is a regulated matter — and it must be declared, approved, and compliant.

Parking at home can be done legally — but only if you do it right. Street parking, on the other hand, is a definite no-go.

Stay proactive, keep neighbours on-side, and make sure your licence reflects reality. That way, you’ll avoid unwanted attention from the DVSA and protect your business.

Next in the series:👉 Public Inquiries: Real-Life Cases Involving Operating Centre Breaches