Coronavirus (COVID-19): transport and travel guidance

Information for people using transport or working in the transport sector during the coronavirus outbreak.

1. Using public transport

Coronavirus (COVID-19): UK transport and travel advice

Guidance From Department for Transport

Using public transport during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Stay at home
Public transport – buses, rail, underground, trams, ferries
Air travel
Travelling in the UK
Working in the transport industry

2. Driving private vehicles - cars, vans, motorbikes

Coronavirus: MOTs due up to 29 March 2020

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

What to do if your car, van or motorcycle’s MOT expiry date was on or before 29 March 2020.

Stay up to date
What to do if your MOT has run out
You or someone you live with has symptoms of coronavirus
You are extremely vulnerable from coronavirus
You’re not self-isolating or extremely vulnerable
Driving if your MOT or vehicle tax has run out

Coronavirus: MOTs due from 30 March 2020

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Your car, van or motorcycle’s MOT expiry date will be extended by 6 months if it’s due on or after 30 March 2020 - but you must keep your vehicle safe to drive.

Stay up to date
Eligibility
How the 6-month extension works
What you need to do
Keep your vehicle safe to drive

Coronavirus: driving tests and theory tests

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Theory tests are suspended for one month, and driving tests are suspended for up to 3 months due to coronavirus - but tests are available for critical workers.

Stay up to date
Theory tests
Driving tests
Book an emergency test if you’re a critical worker

Coronavirus: specialist vehicle approval tests

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Approval tests for newly-built, rebuilt, radically-altered and imported vehicles are suspended due to coronavirus - but critical vehicles can still be tested.

Stay up to date
If your approval test was cancelled
Book an emergency IVA test for vehicles critical to the COVID-19 response

DVLA Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Please use our online services, which are all currently available. Please do not send in any paper applications until further notice.

3. Bus and lorry drivers

Coronavirus: Driver CPC requirement temporary changes

Guidance From Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Temporary changes to allow bus and lorry drivers who cannot complete compulsory Driver CPC training to continue to drive.

Stay up to date
Enforcement arrangements
Where this applies
Insurance
Remote training
Check your training record
Never held a Driver CPC or Driver CPC expired before 1 March 2020
Further information

Coronavirus (COVID-19): drivers’ hours relaxations

Guidance From Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Guidance on the relaxation of drivers’ hours rules, in the context of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Stay up to date
Relaxation of drivers’ hours rules
Drivers’ hours rules for goods vehicles
Emergency relaxations
Drivers’ hours relaxations
Existing drivers’ hours relaxations
Health and safety legislation

Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers’ hours rules: all sectors carriage of goods by road

Guidance From Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Temporary relaxation of the EU and GB drivers’ hours rules for drivers carrying goods by road.

Relaxation of EU drivers’ hours rules
Relaxation of GB drivers’ hours rules
Timing of the relaxations
Who can use the relaxation
Interaction with other relaxations
Using the relaxation

Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of the drivers’ hours rules: delivery of essential items to consumers

Guidance From Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Temporary relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules for drivers making essential deliveries to consumers' homes.

This publication was withdrawn on 7 April 2020

This temporary relaxation expired on 3 April 2020.

Temporary relaxation of the enforcement of EU drivers’ hours rules: drivers supplying supermarkets

Guidance From Department for Transport and Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Temporary relaxation of the EU drivers’ hours rules for a 30 day period, for drivers supplying supermarkets with food and other essential items.

load platform — HGV Alliance Ad - Register free, post a load to our owner operators for only £0.99p

4. Freight, bus and road transport businesses

Coronavirus: MOTs for lorries, buses and trailers

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Your lorry, bus or trailer will be exempt from needing an MOT for 3 months from 21 March 2020. You might need to apply for this, depending on your vehicle.

Stay up to date
What you need to do
Any lorry, bus or trailer that needs a first MOT (annual test) before 31 March 2020
A lorry, bus or trailer returning to service where the test certificate expired before March 2020
A lorry or trailer needing a dangerous goods (ADR) test before 21 March 2020
What to do if you have not been issued an exemption

Coronavirus: dangerous goods vehicle (ADR) annual inspections

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Dangerous goods vehicle annual inspections have been suspended from 21 March 2020 because of coronavirus - find out how to get a waiver to use your vehicle.

Stay up to date
Eligibility
What you need to do
Rules for using the waiver

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Advice for Heavy Goods (HGV) and Public Service Vehicle (PSV) Operators

Statutory guidance From Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain

Advice issued to assist the transport industry during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.

Traffic commissioners: contingency and emergency planning, coronavirus (COVID-19)

Statutory guidance From Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain

Seeks to support industry through flexible working practices and a proportionate approach.

Statutory Document setting out the approach that traffic commissioners will adopt in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in Great Britain.

COVID-19: advice for the freight transport industry

Guidance From Department for Transport and Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Guidance for the freight transport industry on international travel following government advice for British nationals.

Health and safety
Borders and travel restrictions
Insurance
Consular help
Latest health advice

Packaging and transport requirements for patient samples – UN3373

Guidance From Department for Transport

Guidance on the transport of patient specimens suspected of containing Coronavirus (COVID-19).

Purpose of guidance
Interpretation of Packing Instruction 650
Packing instruction P650

5. Transport workers

COVID-19: guidance for staff in the transport sector

Guidance From Department for Transport and Public Health England

Guidance on COVID-19, including general precautions for staff and guidance on the assessment and management of arrivals into the UK.

What you need to know
Background
Symptoms
What to do if someone develops symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) in a transport setting
Travel arrangements
Cleaning and waste
Limiting spread in transport hubs
Handling baggage, post or freight
Arrivals into the UK
Toilet and shower facilities

Coronavirus: MOT centre and tester guidance

Guidance From Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency

Guidance on providing MOT tests during the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, including how to limit the spread of coronavirus.

Stay up to date
Rules on opening
What to do if someone becomes unwell in your MOT centre
Limiting the spread of coronavirus at your centre

6. Maritime and shipping

COVID-19: shipping and sea ports guidance

Guidance From Public Health England, Department for Transport, and Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Guidance for shipping and sea ports on coronavirus (COVID-19).

What you need to know
Background
Symptoms
What to do if you have had a person with confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) in a marine setting
Specific action for ships and shipping companies
Limiting spread of coronavirus (COVID-19) in marine settings
Cleaning and waste
Disembarkation
Useful links

UK seafarer careers: COVID-19 guidance, training provision, information and examination syllabuses

Guidance From Maritime and Coastguard Agency

Training for seafarers including, an COVID-19 update, career information, written and oral exam syllabuses and details for nautical colleges and training centres

COVID-19: Contingency Plan and Guidelines for Seafarers
Foundation degrees
Higher National Diploma (HND) or Higher National Certificate (HNC) certificates
Careers at sea – merchant navy opportunities
Nautical colleges, yacht deck training providers and small vessel engineer training providers
Training centres
UK marine offices
Oral exam syllabuses
Written examination syllabuses
For consultation reference
Royal Naval MoUs
External maritime organisations

MIN 614 (M+F) Coronavirus (COVID-19) – UK Ship Register approach to registration services for UK Vessels

Guidance From Maritime and Coastguard Agency

This MIN provides information on how the UK Ship Register is undertaking registration services including Civil Liabilities Certificates and Continuous Synopsis Records due to the ongoing Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.