What to Do If You Receive a PG9 at a Roadside Inspection
Receiving a PG9 during a roadside inspection can disrupt your day, your schedule, and your compliance record. Knowing exactly what steps to follow is crucial for staying safe, avoiding further penalties, and preventing long-term damage to your OCRS. In this article we discuss some of the things an operator should do if they receive a PG9 and good practices to reduce risk of receiving it in the first place.
What Is a PG9?
A PG9 is a prohibition notice issued by the DVSA or the police when a vehicle is found to have a defect that affects its safety or legal roadworthiness during a roadside inspection. It is a formal enforcement action and is recorded against the operator’s compliance history.
There are two types of PG9:
- Immediate Prohibition – The defect is serious enough that the vehicle must not be driven until it has been repaired and declared roadworthy.
- Delayed Prohibition – The vehicle may continue for a limited time or distance, but the defect must be repaired by the deadline stated on the notice.
A PG9 applies to the vehicle and the fleet operator, not the driver personally. It can affect an operator’s OCRS score, trigger further DVSA attention, and lead to additional checks if similar defects occur again.
Understanding the Prohibition
Once a DVSA examiner or police officer issues a PG9, the operator should first establish whether the prohibition is Immediate or Delayed, as this determines whether the vehicle can continue under restriction or must be taken out of service. The operator should obtain a clear description of the defect and its severity from the driver, along with confirmation of whether recovery is required or if the vehicle may be moved to a designated safe location.
Taking Immediate Action
As a PG9 is recorded against the operator’s licence, prompt and structured action is essential. As soon as notification is received from the driver, the operator should obtain the PG9 documentation, photographs and details of the defect, and the instructions given at the roadside.
If the prohibition is Immediate, the operator must arrange recovery or appropriate assistance without delay. If it is Delayed, repairs still need to be scheduled and completed within the timeframe stated on the notice. All information should be logged within the defect reporting system, maintenance records, and compliance files.
In some cases, an operator issued with a PG9 prohibition notice may be required to notify the Traffic Commissioner as soon as possible and no later than 28 days from the date that the notice was issued.
Getting the PG9 Cleared
A PG9 cannot be ignored or worked around. Only a competent person should carry out the repairs, and they must fully address the defect. Keep all repair evidence: invoices, job cards, defect reports, and technician notes. Some prohibitions require a clearance inspection. The PG9 remains in place until the defect has been confirmed as rectified, and a PG10 (notice removing the prohibition) has been issued. This clearance and all supporting paperwork must be added to the operator’s maintenance records. Failing to follow these steps can lead to repeat prohibitions, enforcement action, and serious OCRS consequences.
Strengthening Your Compliance Processes
A PG9 should prompt a thorough look at your maintenance and compliance processes to identify where the issue originated. After the vehicle is repaired and PG9 is cleared, the operator should review the situation thoroughly.
Key potential issues to look into:
- Was the defect something a driver should have spotted during walkaround checks?
- Are inspections and maintenance not carried out often enough on the current schedule?
- Is this an isolated issue or does it show up across the fleet?
- Does the service offered by your maintenance provider meet your requirements?
While operators should do their best to avoid a PG9, it is also important that your drivers are well prepared for a situation where it is issued. Steps to take in case a PG9 is issued, along with the rest of scenarios that might occur during a roadside inspection should be a part of your drivers training.
A prohibition is an opportunity to reinforce processes, improve communication between drivers and workshops, refresh training, and tighten defect reporting procedures. By addressing the root cause, operators demonstrate strong compliance management and significantly reduce the risk of future PG9s or DVSA scrutiny.
Starting 2nd February 2026, operators will receive the PG10 clearance via email. The email will be sent directly to the operator whose email address is linked to the vehicle on the Vehicle Operator Licencing (VOL) system.