What Is a PG9 Prohibition Notice? What to Do If You Get One
A DVSA examiner has just handed your driver a PG9 prohibition notice. Your vehicle is off the road — either immediately or within 10 days. Your OCRS score just took a hit, and if this isn't your first, the Traffic Commissioner is going to notice.
Here's what a PG9 actually means, how the different types work, and exactly what you need to do next.
What a PG9 Prohibition Notice Is
A PG9 is a formal prohibition notice issued by a DVSA examiner or police officer when they find a vehicle defect serious enough to warrant taking the vehicle off the road.
It's not a warning or advisory. It's a legal order. The vehicle cannot be used on the road until the defect is repaired and the prohibition is cleared.
Immediate vs Delayed Prohibition
There are two types of PG9, and the difference matters for your OCRS:
Immediate Prohibition
Issued for defects that present an immediate danger. The vehicle must stop being driven right away — it cannot continue its journey.
Common triggers:
- Brake failure or severe brake imbalance
- Insecure load that could fall onto the road
- Major structural defect (cracked chassis, broken suspension)
- Tyre with cord showing or below minimum tread
- Steering defect
An immediate prohibition usually carries an S mark (for "significant"), indicating a systemic maintenance failure rather than a one-off defect. S-marked prohibitions add more points to your OCRS and are more likely to trigger a Traffic Commissioner referral.
Delayed Prohibition
Issued for defects that are serious but don't present an immediate danger. The vehicle can continue its current journey but must be repaired within a specified period — usually up to 10 days.
Common triggers:
- Oil leaks
- Minor light failures (not brake lights)
- Bodywork damage that doesn't affect safety
- Worn components approaching failure
A delayed prohibition still affects your OCRS, but less severely than an immediate one.
How Defects Are Categorised
DVSA categorises vehicle defects using a system similar to MOT testing. The categorisation of vehicle defects guide published by DVSA defines:
- Dangerous — direct and immediate risk to road safety. Results in immediate prohibition.
- Major — significant effect on safety or the environment. Typically results in a prohibition (may be delayed).
- Minor — no significant effect on safety. May result in an advisory or no formal action.
The categorisation determines whether you get an immediate or delayed prohibition — and how many points get added to your OCRS.
What to Do When You Get a PG9
1. Don't drive the vehicle (immediate prohibition)
This sounds obvious, but the consequences of driving under prohibition are severe — prosecution, additional OCRS points, and almost certain Traffic Commissioner action. If the vehicle is loaded, you'll need to arrange alternative transport for the load and recovery for the vehicle.
For a delayed prohibition, you can complete the current journey but must fix the defect within the specified timeframe.
2. Read the notice carefully
The PG9 specifies:
- The exact defect(s) found
- Whether the prohibition is immediate or delayed
- Whether it's S-marked (maintenance system failure)
- The deadline for clearance (if delayed)
Keep the notice. You'll need it for the clearance process and to show the Traffic Commissioner you addressed the issue.
3. Repair the defect
Get the vehicle repaired by a competent mechanic. Keep full records of:
- What was repaired
- When the repair was completed
- Who carried out the repair
- Parts used (invoices)
These records matter. If you're called to a public inquiry, the Traffic Commissioner will want to see evidence that you fixed the problem properly, not just enough to pass a re-test.
4. Get the prohibition cleared
To clear a PG9, the vehicle must be inspected at an Authorised Testing Facility (ATF). The inspection confirms the defect has been repaired. Once cleared, a PG10 (removal of prohibition notice) is issued.
Alternatively, if the vehicle passes its next MOT or annual test, the prohibition is automatically cleared.
5. Notify the Traffic Commissioner
You must inform the Traffic Commissioner about the prohibition within 28 days of the notice date. This is a standard O-licence undertaking — the general notification requirements are set out in the goods vehicle operator licensing guide. This applies to the O-licence holder and any named Transport Manager.
Failure to notify is a separate compliance failure — and one that Traffic Commissioners take seriously at public inquiries.
6. Review your maintenance system
An S-marked prohibition doesn't just mean the vehicle was defective — it means DVSA believes your maintenance system allowed the defect to develop. Ask yourself:
- Was this defect something a daily walkaround check should have caught?
- Was the last PMI completed on schedule?
- Did a previous inspection miss this defect?
If the answer to any of these is yes, you have a maintenance system gap that needs fixing — not just the vehicle.
How a PG9 Affects Your OCRS
Every PG9 prohibition is recorded on your OCRS. The impact depends on the severity:
| Type | Approximate OCRS Impact | Band Risk |
|---|---|---|
| Immediate prohibition (S-marked) | High — significant point addition | Can push from green to amber or amber to red |
| Immediate prohibition (no S mark) | Moderate | Contributes to score increase |
| Delayed prohibition | Lower — but still recorded | Cumulative effect with other encounters |
The points stay on your OCRS for 3 years (the rolling window). Multiple prohibitions in a short period compound rapidly.
How to Prevent PG9 Prohibitions
Most PG9s result from defects that a proper maintenance system would have caught before the vehicle left the yard.
Daily walkaround checks — the single most effective prevention. A driver who checks tyres, brakes, lights, and load security before every journey catches defects before DVSA does. Record every check and retain records for 15 months.
PMI discipline — stick to your declared inspection interval. Don't stretch a 6-week interval to 8 weeks because the truck "seems fine." PMIs catch wear-related defects (brakes, suspension, steering) before they become prohibitable.
Tyre management — tyre defects are one of the most common PG9 triggers. Check tread depth, sidewall condition, and inflation regularly. Replace tyres before they approach limits, not after.
Driver reporting — create a culture where drivers report defects without fear of blame. A defect reported and fixed in the yard is infinitely better than one found at a roadside check.
Note: The steps above are general guidance based on standard O-licence undertakings. Always refer to the specific instructions on your PG9 notice and consult the goods vehicle operator licensing guide for your obligations.