Update to Warwickshire Police Agricultural Vehicles Dispensation Scheme Applications

Farmers in Warwickshire are reminded that those planning to move big combines or other oversized machinery on the road need to complete the Agricultural Vehicle Dispensation Scheme form which may be relevant, especially at harvest time.

In normal circumstances, police must be notified at least 24 hours before vehicles more than 3m wide and/or with a speed limit of 40mph or less are taken on the road, or when they are travelling distances greater than five miles.

Failure to comply could result in a penalty of up to £220.

However, applying for annual dispensation is a way around this requirement, but it must be done prior to travel and the document should be kept in the vehicle at all times.

Once granted, machinery up to 4.3m (14ft) wide can be moved without the need to notify police.

This will typically include the majority of medium and large wheeled combines, as well as the bigger tracked tractors.

The scheme allows farmers to chaperon their own machines, within a 25-mile radius of their base, using a suitable escort vehicle running ahead to warn oncoming traffic – tractors and telehandlers towing the header can’t be used to escort the combine.

Please note there has been a change to the application process this year (2025). 

To apply, farmers should email AgriculturalDispensations@warwickshire.police.uk and ask for an agricultural dispensation form, this will then be sent to you electronically for you to complete and return.  Once received and authorised you will receive a PDF version of the form from the abnormal loads department. 

If your application is not authorised, you will be provided with a reason why.

Dispensation certificates last for 12 months and cover all movements of the named vehicles. 

Certificates run from January – December, it would therefore be appreciated if requests could be made in December for the following year. 

Requests outside of December will still be reviewed but there may be a longer wait time on receiving your dispensation.  

Any questions please email the team using the aforementioned address.