The GB (Great Britain) domestic drivers’ hours rules apply to most passenger-carrying vehicles and goods vehicles that do not have to follow the EU rules.

GB domestic rules apply in England, Wales and Scotland. There are separate rules in Northern Ireland.

Goods vehicles

If you drive a goods vehicle, there are rules you need to follow on duty time, daily driving limits and daily duty limits.

Duty time

If you work as a driver for a company, duty time is any working time. If you’re self-employed, duty time is only time you spend driving the vehicle or doing other work related to the vehicle or its load.

Daily driving limit

You must not drive for more than 10 hours in a day:

• on a public road
• off-road if not during duty time

Off-road driving counts as duty time if it’s for:

• agriculture
• quarrying
• forestry
• building work
• civil engineering

Daily duty limit

You must not be on duty for more than 11 hours in any working day. This limit does not apply on any working day when you do not drive.

You must record your hours on a weekly record sheet or on a tachograph.

Some vehicles are exempt from the duty limit.

You’re exempt from the daily duty limit if your vehicle weighs less than 3.5 tonnes and you’re using your vehicle:

• as a doctor, dentist, nurse, midwife or vet
• for inspection, cleaning or maintenance work
• as commercial travellers when carrying goods (other than personal effects) only for the purpose of soliciting orders
• while working for the AA, RAC or RSAC
• for cinematography or radio and television broadcasting

Exemptions to all GB domestic rules

You do not need to follow the GB domestic rules if you:

• are dealing with an emergency - for example, a major disruption to public services or danger to life (this only applies while you’re dealing with the emergency)
• are using the vehicle for private driving and not for work
• drive off-road or on private roads during duty time
• drive a vehicle used by the armed forces, police or fire brigade

Buses and coaches

Duty time

If you work as a driver for a company, duty time is any working time. If you’re self-employed, duty time is only time you spend driving the vehicle or doing other work related to the vehicle or its load.

Daily driving limit

You must not drive for more than 10 hours in any working day.

Breaks and continuous driving

If your working day is less than 8 hours 30 minutes, you must take a break after 5 hours 30 minutes of driving. The break must last 30 minutes or longer.

If your working day is 8 hours 30 minutes or more, you must not drive for more than 7 hours and 45 minutes. You must also take breaks that add up to at least 45 minutes.

If you work more than 8 hours 30 minutes, you must take an extra break before you finish working. The extra break must last 30 minutes or longer.

You cannot take a break immediately before the end of your shift.

Length of working day (‘spreadover’)

You must not work more than 16 hours between the times of starting and finishing work - including the times when you’re not driving.

Daily rest periods

You must take a rest of 10 hours before the first duty and immediately after the last duty in a working week.

You must take a rest of at least 10 hours between 2 working days (or spreadovers) - this can be reduced to 8.5 hours up to 3 times a week.

Fortnightly rest periods

Every 2 weeks you must take at least one period of 24 hours off duty.

Exemptions to all GB domestic rules

You do not need to follow the GB domestic rules if you:

• are dealing with an emergency - for example, a major disruption to public services or danger to life
• drive for less than 4 hours a day in a week - this is only during the week you are driving less than 4 hours a day

If you drive for more than 4 hours for up to 2 days a week, you do not need to follow all of the rules. You need to:

• follow the rules for daily driving limits and length of working day
• start and finish all of your duties within a 24-hour period
• take a rest of 10 hours before the first duty and immediately after the last duty