Van and trailer permit (from 14 January 2026)

Apply for a van or trailer permit

Only Oxfordshire residents with a valid household address can apply for a van or trailer permit.

You cannot apply if you live outside of Oxfordshire. 
 

Trailers

Trailers must be 2.4m or shorter in length and must be towed by either a car, bike or quad bikes.

Trailers longer than 2.4m will be turned away and have their permit revoked.

Commercial-type vehicles, or their equivalent passenger models, may not tow a trailer and will be contacted if found towing one with this type of vehicle. 

Vehicles and trailers that require a permit

Vehicles not allowed

There is a range of vehicles that are not allowed to access our recycling centre. This list of vehicles includes but is not limited to:

• Vehicles carrying commercial waste
• Business branded/sign-written vehicles
• Vehicle longer than 5.8m and/or wider than 2.5m
• Vehicles rated greater than 3.5 tonnes when fully laden
• Vehicles eligible for a permit that are also towing trailers (only cars or quad bikes may tow a trailer)
• Trailers over 2.4m in length
• any vehicle with more than 4 wheels (including double-axle vehicles)
• any trailers with more than 4 wheels
• any vehicles or trailers with a ramp and/or mechanical tipping mechanism, including tipper trucks and beaver-tail vans.
• any box, caged back and/or Luton vans.
• Minibus with more than 9 seats
• Tractors
• Horseboxes or horsebox trailers

Business vehicles

Vehicles registered to a business, used for work, or displaying business branding or signage will not be permitted. You can apply for an exemption if you do not have access to another vehicle in your household. Exemptions are granted at our sole discretion.

Hired (or borrowed) commercial vehicles or trailers

All the restrictions on vehicle sizes, weight, trailer length and operation of mechanical functions still apply to hire vehicles.

Vehicles hired for three days or less

If you have hired a vehicle for three days or less, you do not need a permit. However, you will need to bring:

• hire agreement
• proof of Oxfordshire address

Vehicles hired for more than three days

If hired for more than three days, you cannot visit unless we grant you temporary access. Contact Waste Management to be considered for temporary access.  Further information may be requested, and permission would be given at our discretion.

Borrowed a commercial-type vehicle

If you borrow a commercial vehicle or trailer from a friend, family member, or neighbour, you will need a permit. If the vehicle has a permit, we will take the visit from that permit. If the vehicle doesn't have a permit, you'll need to apply for one.

Taxis

If you use your own taxi, you need a permit to deposit your own household waste.

Hiring a taxi

If you hire a taxi, you do not need a permit, but you must travel with your waste. We will ask for proof of address and a domestic waste declaration. We will ask you to complete a declaration of domestic waste form and show proof of address. We will not deduct a visit from the taxi owner's permit if they have one.

How to use the permit

Permits do not allow you to deposit any form of commercial (trade) waste, including waste originating from a business or charity.

A van or trailer permit is valid for 12 months. During that time, you can have 10 individual visits to any Oxfordshire waste recycling centre. 

You need to enter your permit number when you book a visit. This visit will be recorded upon confirmation. 

Cancel any booking you cannot attend. A visit will be deducted from your remaining allowance even if you do not attend your booking and do not cancel it.

Expiry and renewal

You will be notified via email when your permit expiry date is approaching. The email will contain a link to reapply for the next 12 months.

Permits will not automatically renew.