Bristol tip van permit: who needs one and how to apply
Bristol tips ask vans, pick-ups and trailers to hold a permit. Here's who needs one and how to get it, checked against Bristol City Council and Bristol Waste Company pages on 30 October 2026.
- A van, pick-up or trailer over 1.52m (5 feet) needs a council permit
- Each permit covers 12 visits in 12 months, for household waste only
- Apply online. The council says approval can take up to 5 working days
- You need your V5 logbook, driving licence and a bill showing a Bristol address
- Hire vans on a hire of 3 days or less do not need a permit
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Who needs one
The council says you need a permit for your van, pick-up or towing trailer over 1.52 metres (5 feet). A car without a trailer does not. Hire vans and trailers have different rules, set out in the hire van guide and the tip booking guide.
How to apply
- Apply online through the council self-service form, or by email or post through the Bristol Waste permit page
- Wait for approval, which the council says can take up to 5 working days
- Look out for an email with your E-Permit Reference Number
- Book a timed slot for each visit. The permit does not replace booking
What you need
- Your V5 logbook, all pages
- A photo card or valid paper driving licence
- A council tax or utility bill from the last 3 months
- All documents must be in the same name and show a Bristol address
The council page we checked lists no cost for the permit. Check the application page before you rely on that.
Visits and rules
Each permit covers 12 visits in a 12-month period and allows household waste only. The council says it may cancel your permit or take legal action if it suspects the waste is not from your home or the permit is misused. A booking has to be cancelled at least 2 hours before, or the visit counts towards your quota.
Tall vehicles
A permit does not get a tall vehicle into every site. Vehicles over 2.4m high can only use Hartcliffe Way. Avonmouth and St Philips are not accessible to them. The Bristol Waste Company page gives the limit for Avonmouth and St Philips as 2.3 metres, not 2.4, so if your vehicle is close to that height, measure it and ring first.
Got a van-sized load? A licensed rubbish removal or builders' waste company brings its own vehicle, with no permit.