Apply for a van or trailer permit

Apply online for a free permit to use a van or trailer at the household waste recycling centres.

Do you need a permit for your vehicle?

You must be a resident of Oxfordshire to apply for a van or trailer permit. There are two types of permits available.

Van permit

Van permits are for vehicles classed as commercial. We class commercial-type vehicles as any of the following.

  • Designed to carry goods, not people
  • No rear windows (this means rear windows which are side-facing)
  • No rear seats
  • An open back
  • A back which is separate to the main cab area.

To be eligible for a permit, the commercial vehicle must: 

  • be a commercial vehicle
  • be no more than 6.7 metres long
  • weigh no more than 3.5 tonnes
  • not be a Luton or box van.

Vehicles larger or longer than a long wheel based transit van will not be allowed to enter sites. 

You cannot use a commercial vehicle to tow a trailer on site.

Trailer permit

Trailer permits allow non-commercial vehicles to tow a trailer over 1.8 metres and under 3 metres onto a waste site. To be eligible for a permit, the towing vehicle must:

  • be a non-commercial vehicle
  • be no more than 6.7 metres long
  • weigh no more than 3.5 tonnes
  • not be a camper van, motorhome or minibus
  • have a clear view out of the rear window.

Trailers over 3 meters are not allowed on a waste site.

You do not need a permit to tow a trailer less than 1.8 metres onto a waste site.

Trailers are measured on the length of the load bed only.

If you are unsure whether or not you need a permit, contact us.