Enforcement · 4 min read · Updated
Prohibitions and PG9s - what to do after a DVSA roadside stop
A PG9 prohibition stops a vehicle being used until a roadside defect is put right; immediate prohibitions ground it at once, delayed ones give a short period. An S marking means a significant maintenance failure and weighs heavily, so clear it properly and fix the system, not just the vehicle.
A DVSA examiner at the roadside who finds a defect can issue a prohibition - a PG9 - that stops the vehicle being used until the fault is put right. Handled well, it is a bad afternoon. Handled badly, it becomes a pattern that damages your OCRS score and puts your licence in front of the Traffic Commissioner.
Immediate vs delayed prohibitions
- Immediate prohibition - the defect is dangerous; the vehicle cannot move (except, sometimes, to a place of repair) until it is fixed and the prohibition is cleared.
- Delayed prohibition - the vehicle may continue for a short specified period, but the defect must be fixed within it.
The "S" marking
A prohibition marked "S" means the examiner judged there was a significant failure in maintenance - in other words, the system should have caught this, not just bad luck. S-marked prohibitions weigh far more heavily against the operator, because they point at the management of the fleet, not a one-off.
What to do when you get one
- Take the vehicle off the road if the prohibition is immediate - do not be tempted to run it.
- Rectify the defect properly and keep the evidence of the repair.
- Get it cleared - the prohibition must be formally removed, at an Authorised Testing Facility or by DVSA, before the vehicle runs again.
- Record everything against the vehicle so it sits with your maintenance records.
- Find the root cause - if a walkaround check or safety inspection should have caught it, fix the system, not just the vehicle.
The OCRS and licence impact
Prohibitions feed your Operator Compliance Risk Score, raising your risk band and your chances of being stopped and investigated again. A run of prohibitions - especially S-marked ones - is a common route to a maintenance investigation and a public inquiry. The Traffic Commissioner will want to see not just that you fixed the vehicles, but that you fixed why it happened.
How OperatorCompliance helps
OperatorCompliance keeps a prohibition (PG9) register against each vehicle, ties it back to the walkaround checks and safety inspections around it, and keeps the rectification evidence in the same file - so when DVSA or the Traffic Commissioner asks what you did about it, the answer is one export away. Catching defects earlier through the driver app and the inspection planner is how you stop getting them in the first place. See how it works or start a free 14-day trial.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Always check the current rules on GOV.UK and the DVSA Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness.
Frequently asked questions
What is a PG9 prohibition?
A PG9 is a prohibition a DVSA examiner issues at the roadside when they find a defect, and it stops the vehicle being used until the fault is put right and the prohibition is formally cleared. It can be immediate, grounding the vehicle at once, or delayed, allowing a short specified period before the fault must be fixed.
What is the difference between an immediate and a delayed prohibition?
An immediate prohibition means the defect is dangerous, so the vehicle cannot move, except sometimes to a place of repair, until it is fixed and cleared. A delayed prohibition lets the vehicle continue for a short specified period, but the defect must be put right within it. Either way the prohibition must be formally removed before normal use resumes.
What does an S-marked prohibition mean?
An S marking means the examiner judged there was a significant failure in maintenance, in other words the system should have caught the defect rather than it being bad luck. S-marked prohibitions weigh far more heavily against the operator because they point at the management of the fleet, and you should tell the Traffic Commissioner about them.
How do I clear a prohibition and protect my licence?
Take the vehicle off the road if the prohibition is immediate, rectify the defect properly and keep the repair evidence, then get the prohibition formally cleared at an Authorised Testing Facility or by DVSA before the vehicle runs again. Record it against the vehicle, and find the root cause, so you fix the system and not just the vehicle.
Sources
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