What is a PMI inspection — and how often does your HGV need one?

If you hold a goods vehicle operator licence, planned maintenance inspections are not optional. They're a legal obligation, and the way DVSA judges whether you're running a safe and compliant operation. Yet for many owner-drivers — especially those new to holding their own licence — the detail of what's required isn't always clear.

Here's what you need to know.

What PMI stands for

PMI stands for planned maintenance inspection. It's a documented safety check carried out on every vehicle and trailer in your fleet at regular, pre-agreed intervals. The 'planned' part matters — DVSA expects your maintenance to be scheduled and recorded, not reactive.

When you applied for your operator licence, you declared how often you'd have vehicles inspected. That declaration is legally binding. If you said every 6 weeks, every 6 weeks is what DVSA expects to see evidence of.

What a PMI covers

A PMI is a thorough safety check of the whole vehicle, typically including:

• Brake performance across all axles

• Tyre condition, tread depth and inflation pressure

• Steering and suspension components

• All lights, reflectors and electrical systems

• Bodywork, chassis and load security points

• Exhaust and emissions

• Coupling gear (for artics and trailers)

Every inspection must be recorded on a vehicle inspection report. Any defects found must be noted, categorised as immediate or advisory, and signed off once repaired. Those records need to be kept for a minimum of 15 months.

How often do you need one?

The frequency is set by your licence maintenance declaration and depends on the type of work your vehicles do. Common intervals are 6, 8, 10 or 13 weeks. Vehicles doing intensive work — multiple shifts, rough terrain, heavy loads — typically need more frequent inspections than lighter-duty operations.

If you're not sure what your declaration says, check your licence documentation or call your traffic commissioner's office.

What happens if you miss one?

Missing a PMI, or failing to keep the records, is one of the fastest ways to damage your operator licence. DVSA roadside encounters, operator compliance risk score checks, and public inquiries all look at maintenance records. Gaps in the paperwork — even for vehicles that were actually well maintained — can result in licence curtailment or revocation.

It's also worth knowing that a vehicle with an out-of-date PMI is more likely to carry a defect into an MOT or a roadside check. The inspection process exists because it catches things before they become prohibitions.

Getting your PMIs done properly

Your PMIs must be carried out by someone competent to do them — either a qualified in-house fitter or an approved external workshop. The inspection report must be signed by the person who carried it out.

At DCVS, we carry out PMI inspections for HGVs and trailers at our workshop in Brigg, covering operators across North Lincolnshire. We issue a full inspection report for every vehicle and can retain copies as part of your maintenance record if that's helpful.

If you'd like to book your vehicle in, call us on 01652 656885 or visit us at Island Carr Industrial Estate, Brigg, DN20 8PD. We're open Monday to Friday from 6am to 6pm and Saturday from 6am to 1pm.