Get in Touch
Get a Quote
An HGV can be made DVS compliant in 24 hours only if every other condition is already in place. The vehicle’s equipment, its eligibility, an available fitting slot and the permit all have to line up, and the 24-hour window covers none of them automatically. Fitting equipment is one step; compliance in 2026 is judged against the current Transport for London (TfL) rules.
- Whether an HGV is DVS compliant in 24 hours depends on the star rating, the equipment needed and the permit, not on fitting alone.
- Fitted equipment does not replace the Greater London HGV safety permit. Check both against current TfL guidance.
- Crystal Ball’s DVS Kit covers Progressive Safe System equipment. Confirm your vehicle’s exact requirements before booking.
- Do not drive into Greater London on the assumption that a same-day fit equals compliance.
Why a 24-hour DVS fit is harder than it sounds
The Direct Vision Standard (DVS) applies to HGVs over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight operating in Greater London. Operators need a DVS HGV safety permit, and the vehicle’s direct-vision star rating decides what safety equipment it must carry.
That is why speed alone is the wrong question. A fast fit of the wrong equipment is still non-compliant. A correct fit with no permit application is also non-compliant.
You can check each stage before a vehicle enters the capital. Our DVS Progressive Safe System checklist lists the equipment points to confirm.
Can an HGV be made DVS compliant in 24 hours?
Short answer: sometimes the equipment can be fitted that quickly, but compliance is not complete until the permit is in place. The 24-hour figure is a fitting question. It is not a TfL timescale.
Treat the work as four separate stages, each with its own owner and its own delay risk.
| Stage | What it involves | Can it fit inside 24 hours? |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility check | Confirm the vehicle is in scope and find its star rating | Often, if the registration and weight details are to hand |
| Equipment specification | Match the required Progressive Safe System equipment to the vehicle | Depends on the vehicle and its current fit |
| Installation | Fit the equipment and test it | Depends on the supplier’s availability and the vehicle’s design |
| Permit | Apply for, receive and display the permit as TfL requires | Follow TfL’s current process, not a supplier’s timetable |
The equipment side can move quickly. The permit stage cannot be completed by a supplier on your behalf: it follows TfL’s process.
What DVS equipment may be needed
The Progressive Safe System sets out the equipment an HGV may need, depending on its star rating. Crystal Ball’s DVS Kit includes the Moving Off Information System (MOIS) and Blind Spot Information System (BSIS), with AI cameras that detect vulnerable road users. Depending on your vehicle, the Progressive Safe System can also call for the other items below, so check them against the current TfL requirements:
- Blind Spot Information System (BSIS) to warn the driver of vulnerable road users beside the vehicle. See blind spot information systems for DVS.
- Moving Off Information System (MOIS) for the area in front of the cab when the vehicle pulls away.
- A near-side camera or Camera Monitoring System, with the monitor the configuration requires.
- A left-turn warning speaker or approved audible warning.
- Pictorial warning signage on the vehicle.
Do not assume every item is needed on every vehicle. Do not assume a general camera set-up covers any of them either.
Why the answer varies by vehicle
Several factors decide how long a compliant fit takes:
- Star rating. A vehicle’s direct-vision rating sets how much additional equipment it needs.
- Existing equipment. A vehicle already carrying some compliant items needs less work than one starting from nothing.
- Vehicle design. Cab layout and mounting points affect installation time.
- Fitting availability. A slot at a depot or fitting centre is a practical limit, not a technical one.
- Permit status. The permit process runs on TfL’s terms.
- Testing after fit. Equipment must be checked as working before the vehicle is used. See what to do if DVS equipment stops working for the follow-up checks.
Does a 360 camera system make an HGV DVS compliant?
No. A 360° Camera System gives multi-camera visibility around a commercial vehicle, but it does not by itself establish DVS compliance. DVS and Progressive Safe System equipment must be verified separately against the current TfL requirements.
Crystal Ball treats the 360° Camera System and the DVS Kit as distinct products. They can sit together on the same vehicle where both needs apply. Each carries only its own functions. For the equipment that counts towards DVS, read 360 camera system equipment for DVS.
Do you need the permit before the equipment is fitted?
The permit and the equipment are separate requirements, and both must be right before the vehicle operates in Greater London. Check TfL’s current guidance on the order of steps for your vehicle. Do not rely on an older article, including historic October 2024 wording, as proof of today’s position.
What should you ask a supplier before booking a 24-hour fit?
Put these questions to any DVS supplier in 2026:
- Which star rating applies to my vehicle, and what equipment does it require?
- Which of those items does your kit include, and which are separate?
- Is installation included, and when is the earliest slot?
- How is the equipment tested after fitting?
- Who applies for the permit, and what happens if the application is delayed?
A supplier who answers every point in writing is easier to hold to account than one who promises compliance in a day.
Where Crystal Ball’s DVS Kit fits
The Crystal Ball DVS Kit is for HGVs that need a DVS safety permit in Greater London. It is aimed at fleets that want Progressive Safe System equipment from a UK team with human support. The DVS Kit costs £599 including equipment and VAT (price checked on 7 October 2026). Installation is priced on request, and orders of 10 or more units are quoted separately.
Pros: equipment designed around the DVS and Progressive Safe System requirements; a UK-based, family-run team behind it.
Cons: it does not issue the permit, and it does not remove the need to check your vehicle’s star rating and eligibility with TfL.
FAQ
Can an HGV be made DVS compliant in 24 hours?
Only the equipment fit might fit into 24 hours, depending on the vehicle and the supplier’s availability. Compliance also needs the correct equipment for the star rating and the permit, which follows TfL’s process.
Is fitting DVS equipment the same as having a DVS permit?
No. Equipment and the HGV safety permit are separate requirements. Having one does not satisfy the other.
Which HGVs need DVS compliance?
HGVs over 12 tonnes gross vehicle weight operating in Greater London are in scope. Confirm your vehicle’s category on the TfL website.
Does a 360 camera system count as DVS equipment?
Not on its own. A 360° Camera System gives surrounding visibility, but DVS and Progressive Safe System equipment must be verified separately against current TfL requirements.
What equipment does the Progressive Safe System involve?
It can include a Blind Spot Information System, a Moving Off Information System, a near-side camera or Camera Monitoring System, a left-turn warning and pictorial signage, depending on the vehicle.
How much does DVS equipment cost?
Check the current price on the Crystal Ball DVS Kit page, and confirm what it includes and whether installation is separate.
What if DVS equipment stops working after it is fitted?
Stop and check the fault before driving in Greater London, and follow the reporting steps in your operating procedures. Contact your supplier for repair.
One last thing
If you must have a vehicle in London soon, start with eligibility and the permit, not the fitting date. A confirmed star rating and permit status show you what the fit needs to achieve. That removes most of the risk behind a 24-hour deadline.
If you need a vehicle in London and want the equipment side confirmed before you book a slot, request a quote with the vehicle details and its star rating.
Explore the relevant Crystal Ball solution
Crystal Ball Direct Vision Standard Kit
Progressive Safe System equipment for relevant HGVs operating in Greater London.
£599 INCLUDING VAT FOR EQUIPMENT. INSTALLATION IS PRICED SEPARATELY WHERE REQUIRED.
Related guides
- Blind spot information systems for DVS
- 360 camera system equipment for DVS
- What to do if DVS equipment stops working