Updated DVSA Guide: Key Brake Testing and Inspection Requirements in 2025
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has issued a significant update to its Guide to Maintaining Roadworthiness, effective April 2025. These changes are particularly important for operators of commercial vehicles and trailers, with a renewed focus on brake performance and maintenance schedules—especially for older fleets.
Brake Testing: Now a Requirement at Every Safety Inspection
The updated guidance mandates that all safety inspections now include a meaningful assessment of brake performance. This is not simply a visual inspection—operators must provide verifiable evidence of brake efficiency through one of the following approved methods:
Laden Roller Brake Test (RBT) – Vehicles must be tested under load to ensure realistic performance conditions.
Electronic Brake Performance Monitoring System (EBPMS) – For those using modern monitoring technology, this system can offer continuous, automated performance analysis.
Decelerometer Testing – Where RBT is not practical, decelerometer tests are acceptable, provided the results include temperature readings where necessary.
This shift reflects concerns raised in recent years, where a substantial number of braking defects at MOT were only identified through performance-based testing—not during routine maintenance. Operators must therefore ensure brake test results are reviewed regularly and retained as part of their maintenance documentation.
Six-Week Inspection Mandate for Older Vehicles
In a notable policy change, the DVSA now requires that all vehicles and trailers over 12 years old be inspected at least every six weeks, regardless of mileage or operating conditions.
This is a stricter approach compared to previous guidance, which allowed for greater flexibility based on usage and risk assessment. The change acknowledges that older vehicles are more prone to mechanical wear and safety-critical failures. By mandating a six-week interval, the DVSA aims to ensure that aging fleets receive the attention they need to remain roadworthy and compliant.
Embracing Digital Maintenance Systems
The 2025 guide also encourages the wider use of digital systems for maintenance record-keeping. The DVSA now recognises the benefits of digital platforms for ensuring more accurate, secure, and accessible maintenance logs. Operators are advised to transition away from paper-based systems where possible, using compliant digital software to log inspections, repairs, and brake test data.
Digital records offer several key advantages:
Improved traceability and audit readiness
Easier monitoring of inspection schedules
Real-time access across depots or maintenance teams
This shift supports better compliance and helps streamline vehicle defect management processes. We will cover digital systems more in depth in another post.
What Operators Need to Do Now
Update Inspection Routines: Ensure your internal maintenance schedules reflect the new six-week minimum for older vehicles.
Verify Brake Test Procedures: Each safety inspection must now be supported by either an RBT, EBPMS output, or decelerometer results. Visual-only assessments will no longer suffice.
Train Maintenance Staff: Make sure your team understands the new requirements and is competent in using brake testing tools and interpreting results.
Review Record Keeping: Maintain up-to-date inspection records and brake test reports in case of an audit or roadside inspection.
Final Thoughts
The DVSA’s latest updates aim to raise safety standards across the industry by addressing known weak points in vehicle maintenance—particularly braking performance and the reliability of older vehicles. Operators who embrace these changes not only reduce the risk of non-compliance but also improve the safety and efficiency of their fleet.
For full guidance, visit the DVSA’s updated roadworthiness guide.