diff --git a/src/models/ministryPlate.ts b/src/models/ministryPlate.ts
index cd57cb3..577ae32 100644
--- a/src/models/ministryPlate.ts
+++ b/src/models/ministryPlate.ts
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ export class MinistryPlateDocument extends DocumentModel {
         tyreUseCode: techRecord.techRecord_tyreUseCode,
         axles: this.populateAxles(
           techRecord.techRecord_vehicleType === 'hgv'
-            ? (techRecord.techRecord_axles as HGVAxles[])
-            : (techRecord.techRecord_axles as TRLAxles[]),
+            ? (techRecord.techRecord_axles as HGVAxles[] ?? [])
+            : (techRecord.techRecord_axles as TRLAxles[] ?? []),
           generateTrlEec,
         ),
       }
diff --git a/tests/unit/ministryPlate.test.ts b/tests/unit/ministryPlate.test.ts
index 4cc0407..7ebf8d4 100644
--- a/tests/unit/ministryPlate.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/ministryPlate.test.ts
@@ -76,6 +76,12 @@ describe('Document Model tests', () => {
     expect(document.PLATES_DATA.axles.axle4.weights.gbWeight).toBe('123');
   });
 
+  it('should not fail if no axles present', () => {
+    (request.techRecord as TechRecordType<'hgv', 'get'>).techRecord_axles = null as unknown as HGVAxles[];
+    const document = new MinistryPlateDocument(request);
+    expect(document.PLATES_DATA.axles.axle1).toStrictEqual({});
+  });
+
   it('should apply no water mark for prod', () => {
     process.env.BRANCH = 'prod';
     const document = new MinistryPlateDocument(request);