Leeds tip van permit: the rules and banned vans
Leeds has a permit scheme for vans and trailers at its tips. Here's who needs one and which vehicles are banned, checked against Leeds City Council pages on 28 October 2026.
- Short-wheelbase, low-roof vans up to 3 tonnes, 4x4 pick-ups and small trailers need a permit
- A set is 12 permits, one per visit, with no expiry date
- Banned: box vans, long-wheelbase and high-roof vans, flatbeds and pick-ups (except 4x4s)
- Trailers: single axle, unbraked, no bigger than 1.8m by 1.2m
- Apply by email or post. Visits in person are no longer accepted
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Who needs a permit
| Vehicle | Permit? |
|---|---|
| Hatchback, estate, saloon, MPV, SUV, convertible or 4x4 without a pick-up | No |
| Vehicle adapted for a disability | No |
| Short-wheelbase, low-roof van up to 3 tonnes gross weight | Yes |
| Car towing a trailer up to 1.2m by 1.8m | Yes |
| Car with business writing or logos | Yes |
| 4x4 with a pick-up (including enclosed pick-up types) | Yes |
| Minibus, campervan or 8 to 16 seater | Yes |
Check the gross vehicle weight in your V5 log book. A campervan is only treated as one if it is fully converted with permanent fittings. If the fittings are taken out, it isn't allowed.
Banned vehicles
These can't use any Leeds tip: box vans, single-cab pick-ups, flatbeds, ordinary pick-ups (4x4s are different), high-roof vans, long-wheelbase vans, vans over 3 tonnes, larger trailers, horse boxes and agricultural vehicles. The council points them to its Kirkstall or Seacroft waste transfer stations, where a fee applies.
Trailers
- No more than 1.8m by 1.2m (6ft by 4ft), single axle and unbraked
- Sides mustn't be built up to carry more
- Towed only by a car, estate, 4x4 without a pick-up or people carrier, not by a van, minibus, pick-up or campervan
How many permits
| Type | How many |
|---|---|
| Standard set | 12, one per visit. One set per household, no expiry. Unused ones carry over |
| Borrowed or company vehicle | Up to 4 |
| Hire vehicle | Up to 4 a year (not extra to your 12), each valid for 14 days. Bring the hire agreement every time |
A new set is only issued once all the old permits are used and more than 12 months have passed since your first application. If your vehicle changes, you reapply and only the unused permits are reissued.
How to apply
- Fill in the council's large vehicle and trailer permit form
- Attach copies (not originals) of proof of vehicle ownership, like a V5, lease or hire agreement, and proof you live in Leeds, like a council tax bill, driving licence or utility bill
- Email it to leeds.waste@leeds.gov.uk, or post it to HWRC Permit Scheme, Leeds City Council, Evanston Avenue, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS4 2HR
- Permits are posted to your home. If they haven't arrived after 10 days, contact the council
The council's page lists no permit fee. A permit lets you in, but it doesn't change what can be left: trade waste, landlord waste and big renovation jobs are still refused, and a vehicle with business signage can't dispose of waste connected to that business.
Got a box van, a long-wheelbase van or a big load? A licensed rubbish removal or builders' waste company brings its own vehicle.