A standard international licence means you can carry your own goods, and other people’s goods, both in the United Kingdom and on international journeys.

After you get a standard international licence, you can also request the issue of a UK Licence for the Community. A UK Licence for the Community allows:

• trips between all European Union member countries
• transit traffic through EU member countries
• cabotage (a journey entirely within one EU country)

How to apply for a standard international licence

You can apply online on the nidirect website.

You can also find out more about licence fees, the standards of fitness and finances required, and how to make changes or renew a licence.

You need an UK Licence for the Community if you make journeys for hire or reward within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

It’s a single permit that covers trips between these countries. It also allows transit traffic through these countries to and from non-EU countries - but you need extra permits for the non-EU countries.

The UK Licence for the Community also allows you to carry out a limited number of haulage jobs inside an EU country (called ‘cabotage’) or between two EU countries (called ‘cross-trade’).

There are no limits on the number of available licences.

Eligibility

You must have a standard international vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland to apply for a UK Licence for the Community.

Where you can use the licences

You can use UK Licences for the Community in the 27 EU countries and three other countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Apply for licences

Call DVSA get a licence. You need your vehicle operator licence number.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

UK Licences for the Community are valid until the 5-yearly renewal date of your operator’s licence.

Fees

There’s no fee for UK Licences for the Community if you have a standard international vehicle operator licence.

Rules for using the licences

You can only use licences that have been issued to you. You cannot transfer them to another operator or company.

The licence includes:

• an office copy - you must keep this at your main office so that it can be inspected by enforcement agencies
• certified copies - you can get a certified copy for each of the vehicles authorised by your standard international vehicle operator licence

Certified copies of the licences are not specific to any one vehicle.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry a certified copy of your UK Licence for the Community in your vehicle when transporting goods in or through EU countries.

You must also carry a certified copy if you’re transporting goods using another type of permit.

The driver must show it to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen licences

You must tell DVSA if your documents are lost, damaged or stolen.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return the office copy and certified copies to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for permits for nine non-EU countries that the United Kingdom has agreements with to transport goods to or through those countries. These countries are: 

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Each country has single-journey permits. Whether or not you need a permit depends on:

• the size of the vehicle
• the nature of the goods being carried

Special permits for Morocco

There are also two extra types of permits for Morocco to:

• enter Morocco with an empty vehicle
• take in filming equipment and material for film or TV products, or equipment for exhibitions (including racing)

Types of permits for Azerbaijan

Depending on the type of journey you are carrying out, you will need to use one of 2 different types of permit for Azerbaijan.

Bilateral or transit journey permits

These permits let you complete either a:

• bilateral journey between the UK and Azerbaijan
• transit journey across Azerbaijan to a third country - additional permits may be required for travel to the third country

Azerbaijan or third country permits

These permits let you complete a journey between a third country and Azerbaijan. Additional permits may be required for travel to the third country.

Eligibility

You must have the right type of vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland for the goods you’re transporting to apply for a permit.

Where you can use the permits

You can use the permits to travel to or through:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey (you only need a permit when you’re continuing on to another third-country)
• Ukraine (you only need a permit if you have a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle)

You also need a permit for ‘own account’ journeys to:

• Belarus
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

Single-journey permits are valid for one complete journey. The outward and return trips count as one complete journey.

Multiple-journey permits are available for Morocco which authorises 15 return trips during the validity of the permit.

Apply for permits

Download and fill in the application form.

Send it to DVSA at least 5 working days before you start your journey from the UK.

Include a cheque or postal order to pay the fee. If you want to pay by debit or credit card, DVSA will contact you to take the payment when your application arrives.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Apply for road haulage permits for some non-EU countries
(ODT, 45KB).

Fees

Rules for using the permits

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

You must return all special entry permits for Morocco within 15 days of them expiring - whether you’ve used them or not.

What to do when you make journeys

You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey.

You need to show the permit at the border, and you’ll be allowed to pass into or through that country.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return unused permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

Get help with bilateral international road haulage permits

Contact the DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office to get help with bilateral permits.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office

irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Last updated: 4 December 2025

European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) permits allow you to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through ECMT member countries.

You need to follow rules about using your ECMT permits, including your drivers carrying the right documents.

Check if you need ECMT permits

You can use ECMT international road haulage permits for journeys between 43 ECMT member countries:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

A limited number of ECMT permits are available. However, you can usually make journeys to 42 of these 43 countries without an ECMT permit.

EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

You only need your UK Licence for the Community if your journey is between the UK and an EU country, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.

You do not need an ECMT permit.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU

You can use your UK Licence for the Community to carry out two cross-trade jobs (moving goods between two countries) in the EU.

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a third cross-trade job. The ECMT permit will let you carry out three cross-trade jobs between any ECMT country.

Cross-trade jobs between EU and non-EU countries

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job between the EU and a non-EU country. The non-EU country must be an ECMT member country.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU following an unladen journey from the UK

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job within the EU after an unladen journey from the UK.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine

You do not usually need any permits to transport goods to, through or from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

However, you need to get a bilateral road haulage permit if you’re travelling:

• through Turkey to another country
• in Ukraine using a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia

You can get bilateral road haulage permits instead of ECMT permits if your journey involves Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia.

Unlike ECMT permits, many more of these permits are available.

Armenia

You must have an ECMT permit to transport goods to, through or from Armenia.

If your journey also includes any other ECMT countries, you should:

• use your ECMT permit for the journey
• not apply for separate bilateral permits - you cannot use a bilateral road haulage permit at the same time as an ECMT permit

What you cannot use ECMT permits for

You cannot use ECMT permits:

• to travel through ECMT countries to countries that are not in the scheme
• for cabotage (loading and unloading goods for hire or reward between two points in a country by a vehicle that’s not registered in that country)

Eligibility

To apply for an ECMT permit, you must:

• have a vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland
• have Euro VI or Euro V emissions standard vehicles (depending on the type of permit you’re applying for)

Apply for permits

Rules for using the permits

You must carry your UK Licence for the Community during any journeys to or through EU countries when you’re using an ECMT permit.

You can use an ECMT permit to make an unlimited number of journeys within:

• a calendar year, if you have an annual permit
• 30 days of the start date on the permit, if you have a short-term permit

You have to return to the UK after every third journey.

You can only use your original permit. You cannot:

• make copies of it
• transfer it to other vehicle operators or businesses
• use it in more than one vehicle at a time

Do not laminate the permit, as it may be stamped at checkpoints.

Example

If you have 10 ECMT permits, you can have a maximum of 10 vehicles making journeys to or through ECMT countries at once.

When a vehicle returns to the UK, you can use the same permit to make another journey during the period it is valid for, or you can move the permit to another vehicle on your operator licences. That vehicle can then make journeys to or through ECMT countries.

If you have more than one vehicle operator licence

You can use an ECMT permit for a vehicle assigned to any of your operator licences. It’s not allocated to a specific operator licence.

You’re not allowed to transfer a permit to another business entity, for example, a sister company.

Rules for the vehicles and trailers

You cannot use ECMT permits you’re allocated:

• for unaccompanied trailers or semi-trailers
• with vehicles of a lower Euro emissions class to that shown on the permit (for example, you cannot use a Euro VI permit in a Euro V vehicle, but you can use a Euro V permit in a Euro VI vehicle)

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ in your vehicle and trailer. They must confirm the vehicle meets the correct Euro emissions standard and the trailer meets the technical safety requirements.

If your permit application is successful, request a certificate from your vehicle or trailer manufacturer, or email DVSA for advice.

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for your vehicle and trailer.

If your permit application is successful and you do not already have a certificate, apply online to get one.

Apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness.

Before you start

To apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness, you need:

• your username and password if you’ve used the service to manage your vehicle operator licence before (you can register in the service if you’ve not used it before)
• the vehicle registration number (number plate)
• the trailer registration number or ID number from DVLA (if you’re applying for a trailer)
• the vehicle or trailer type and make
• the certificate of compliance number (leave this blank if you do not have the number)
• vehicle identification number (VIN)
• engine type and number

Meet the ECMT Quality Charter

You must meet the ECMT Quality Charter requirements.

If you have a standard international operator licence

You already meet the requirements of the charter if you have a standard international operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence you need to:

• have a transport manager
• give proof you have the higher levels of financial standing needed for a standard international licence

You can also apply for a standard international licence to show you meet the ECMT Quality Charter.

Fill in the ECMT log book before a journey

Each ECMT permit comes with a log book.

Before you start a journey, fill in the permit’s log book (in pen, not pencil) with a full record of all the journey’s details.

If you make a mistake, cross it out. Make sure the mistake is still readable, as it may need to be checked.

What drivers need to carry during journeys

The driver will need to carry these documents for all of the outward and return journey:

• the ECMT permit
• the ECMT permit log book (plus the issued translation sheets)
• the ECMT certificate of compliance for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)
• a certificate of roadworthiness for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)

The driver must show the documents at checkpoints when asked.

Find out how different countries carry out checks.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Send journey records to DVSA

If you have an annual ECMT permit, you must send the original (top sheet) for each completed page of the ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of your return to the UK.

You must send the complete ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of the permit’s expiry date.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

You should also tell the police if a permit is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

Send your ECMT permits and log books to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for a permit for laden or empty journeys if you’re a specialist removal company and you move household goods and business possessions between or across European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) countries.

There are no limits on the number of available permits.

Eligibility

You must:

• have a standard international operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international operator licence for Northern Ireland
• use specialised equipment and staff for removal operations

What you need ECMT permits for

You need an ECMT permit to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through the EU (except Cyprus), Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to these 13 countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Apply for permits

Apply for a permit at least 5 working days before you start your removal journey from the UK.

To apply, you need:

• your username and password to manage your vehicle operator licence
• a debit or credit card to pay the application fee

When you sign in, select the Permits tab to apply.

Start your application now.

Fees

Each permit costs £18 and lasts for one year.

You can only use a permit for one vehicle at a time.

Rules for using the permits

You must only use the permit for moving and removing household goods and business possessions.

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey. This includes an unladen journey before or after a laden one.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return your permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

‘Own account’ is where either:

• your vehicle is only carrying goods in connection with your own business
• your delivery contents are not for hire or reward

Own account journeys in the EU

You do not need a UK Licence for the Community for own account journeys between the United Kingdom and the European Union if the following conditions apply:

• the goods you’re carrying are your property, or have been sold, bought, let out on hire or hired, produced, extracted, processed or repaired by you
• the journey’s purpose is to carry the goods to or from your premises or to move them for your own requirements
• you employ the drivers, or they’re put at your disposal for your own requirements
• you either own the vehicles carrying the goods, have bought them on deferred terms, or have hired them
• transporting the goods is only to support your main business activity - transporting goods cannot be your main business activity

Own-account operators who are carrying goods for a commercial purpose will still be subject to cabotage and cross-trade rules when operating in the EU.

Extra documents for Cyprus or Hungary

For own account journeys between the UK and Cyprus or Hungary, you must carry documents in the vehicle that show:

• the name and address of the operator
• the operator’s trade or business
• the nature of the goods being carried
• loading and unloading points
• registration number of the vehicle being used
• the route the haulage takes

You may be asked to provide evidence of the ownership of the goods.

Own account journeys in non-EU countries

You must have a bilateral international road haulage permit for own account journeys to some non-EU countries the UK has agreements with - check which non-EU countries you need the permit for.

As a United Kingdom operator, before your drivers transport goods between two points in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for commercial purposes, you must declare the details on an EU portal.

Declaring the details is known as making a posting declaration.

There are no fees to make a posting declaration.

Types of journeys you must declare

You must declare:

• cabotage jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them at another point in the same country using a UK-registered vehicle)
• cross-trade jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them in another of these countries using a UK-registered vehicle)
• moving goods for your own business’ use inside these countries, including if your business is not mainly about moving goods

Find out how many cabotage and cross-trade jobs you’re allowed to do.

You must make a declaration when you use any of these vehicles to transport the goods:

• heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
• HGVs towing trailers
• vans of any size or other light goods vehicles (sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

Journeys inside Ireland

You need to declare journeys inside Ireland if they’re covered by the rules. This includes if you’re a Northern Ireland vehicle operator.

What you do not need to declare

You do not need to declare when your drivers are using an empty vehicle.

You also do not need to declare when your driver is transporting goods:

• from the UK to one place in Europe, where you can both unload and load goods
• from the UK to Europe, and you unload goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot load goods in Europe)
• from Europe to the UK, and you load goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot unload goods in Europe)
• from the UK to a non-European country (but you cannot load or unload the goods while you’re in Europe)

Create an account on the EU portal

You need to create an account for your company on the EU portal before you can declare a journey.

When you’ve created your company account, you can invite other people from your company to have access.

To create an account, you need information about your:

• company
• transport manager
• drivers

Company information

To create your account, you need your company’s:

• name
• address
• country of registration
• email address
• VAT number
• registration number
• UK Licence for the Community number

Transport manager information

To create your account, you need your transport manager’s:

• name
• office address
• email address
• telephone number
• CPC certificate number

Driver information

To create your account, you need this information for each of your drivers who drive in Europe:

• full name
• date of birth
• email address
• home address
• driving licence number
• driver card number
• internal reference number (for example, their employee number)
• ID document (for example, a passport) - you’ll need the document number, the issue date, the expiry date, and which country issued it
• start date of the drivers’ employment contract with you
• applicable law (which country’s law they’re employed under)

If you have lots of drivers, you can upload their details in a spreadsheet. When you’ve signed in, select the Driver menu, and then Upload driver(s). You can then download a spreadsheet template to use and upload.

If you get an ‘Access Denied’ error message

You might get an ‘Access Denied’ error message at times. This can happen if you:

• select ‘Go to my account’ but have not registered on the portal - you need to create a company account or be invited to join one
• were in the process of creating a new company account - select ‘Reload application’ and then ‘Create account’ - the company creation process will then resume
• have been invited by email and signed in with an EU login account - you need to restart the invitation process from the link you were sent in the invitation email - the registration process will then resume

Declare your journeys (make a posting declaration)

You must make a separate posting declaration for each country each driver will transport goods in.

You can choose to either:

• make a posting declaration for each individual journey a driver makes in each country
• make a posting declaration of up to 6 months for a driver to cover all journeys they’ll make in each country during that time

When you’ve made a posting declaration for one country, you can copy that declaration and change the country (if all the other information is the same).

You need:

• the start and end dates of the posting (this can be up to 6 months long)
• the type of operation - you can select cabotage, international carriage (cross-trade) or both (select both if there’s a chance of short notice cabotage jobs - it does not matter if you actually do not end up doing any)
• the vehicle registration (number plates) of the vehicles you’re using (you can add more than one if your driver will be driving multiple vehicles)
• contact details for your transport manager or another contact person in the UK (so European countries can ask for further documents)

You will get penalties if you do not make a declaration.

Start now

Documents your driver needs to carry

Your driver must carry a digital or physical copy of the information you declare for the journey.

Your driver will get penalties from the enforcement authorities in the European countries they’re stopped in if they do not have a copy.

Your driver also still needs all of the usual:

• vehicle and trailer documents
• driver documents - including tachograph records
• export documents - including an electronic consignment note (e-CMR) or a paper CMR

Respond to requests from other countries for copies of documents

Enforcement authorities in EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway can ask you (as the operator) for:

• copies of the documents that drivers have to carry
• documents about the driver’s pay during the journey, their employment contract and timesheets for their work

You must upload the information you’re asked to the EU portal within 8 weeks of being asked for it.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain or the Transport Regulation Unit in Northern Ireland will be able to take action against you if you do not upload the information.

More information

Check the EU postings portal help section for more information.

Since 21 May 2022, anyone operating a light goods vehicle and/or trailer between 2.5 and 3.5 tons in a European Union member state is required to have a goods vehicle operator’s licence.

This only applies to anyone operating a light goods vehicle for hire or reward. This means that goods, not owned by the operator, are being transported for payment.

The new rules will also apply to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The Department for Infrastructure is working to change the law to enable goods vehicle licences to be issued to anyone affected by these new rules.

What to do if you think you may be affected

Check that your business comes within the scope of the changes.

You will only be in-scope if you carry goods for other people in another EU member state (including the Republic of Ireland); and use vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tons maximum gross vehicle weight which are:

• vans or other light goods vehicles (LGVs; sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

If you are in-scope, you will need to either:

• add the relevant LGVs to your goods vehicle operator licence (if you already have one)
• get a goods vehicle operator licence for the first time

What to do if you need a new operator’s licence

There are a number of requirements which you must meet before you can apply for a goods vehicle operator’s licence.  You must be prepared to agree to a number of undertakings to make arrangements for proper loading of vehicles, maintenance of records, etc.  

Professional Competence

You’ll need to prove that either you or your company have sufficient professional competence to run your operations safely and efficiently, particularly as regards:

• planning routes and scheduling delivery times
• managing your team of drivers and administration staff
• making sure drivers follow company and industry regulations
• arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments
• organising vehicle replacements

Professional competence is assessed by means of a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).  You may already have this qualification. 

If not, you’ll be able to either:

• use an existing member of staff (including yourself) who is not qualified as a transport manager, but has managed fleets of vehicles for at least 10 years before 20 August 2020
• employ someone with a transport manager qualification -called a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
• hire in an external qualified transport manager

Option 1: use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC – the ‘Acquired Rights’ scheme

If you decide to use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC, they will need to prove they have at least 10 years of experience managing fleets of vehicles before 20 August 2020.

They’ll be able to apply to have their experience recognised as ‘acquired rights’ to be a transport manager.  This means that they’ll be treated as having the Transport Manager CPC for a period of time.

The government has proposed they will have acquired rights until 20 May 2025, but this could change. During this time, they’ll need to pass a Transport Manager CPC exam.

After they’ve qualified, they’ll need to keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies. They can take transport manager refresher courses to help them do this.

Option 2: employ someone with a transport manager qualification

You can employ someone with a Transport Manager CPC qualification.

You need to make sure they keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies.

Option 3: hire in an external transport manager

You can ‘hire in’ an external transport manager.  They’re not someone on your payroll, but they have a contract with you to act as your transport manager. You must:

• have a contract with them that sets out the tasks they’ll perform as your transport manager
• make sure they only work for a maximum of 4 vehicle operators (including you), managing no more than 50 vehicles in total across all the operators

More information is available in the Driver Vehicle Agency's safe operator's guide.

Finance that you must have available

By law, you need to prove that you have access to a set amount of finance to run your business. The amount you need depends on how many vehicles you have.

You must have £1,600 available for the first vehicle in your fleet. You need an extra £800 per additional vehicle in your fleet.

Example

You have a fleet of 5 vans.

You need to have £1,600 for the first van.

You then need £800 each for the remaining 4 vans (£800 × 4 = £3,200).

You need to prove you have access to funds of at least £4,800 (£1,600 + £3,200).

If you are running a mixed fleet of HGVs and LGVs the calculation will take account of the LGV rate. 

Establishment in Northern Ireland

If you’re applying for a goods vehicle operator’s licence for LGVs only, you don’t have to meet the same requirements for an operating centre as would be necessary for HGVs. 

You will need to provide an address within the UK where the original records of the business will be kept.  You may have to provide access to these records from time to time. The records may be maintained electronically. 

If you already have a goods vehicle operator’s licence, then you will need to apply for a variation to that licence for any in-scope LGVs you wish to operate in the EU (including the Republic of Ireland).

Cost of a licence

There are fees for operators licences and variations to those licences. If you apply for a new licence, or a make a publishable change to an existing licence, you must pay a one-off £254 application fee.

If your licence application is successful, you will then have to pay a licensing fee of £449 which covers a period of five years. A fee of £449 is also payable at the end of the five year period if you wish to continue your existing licence.

A standard international licence means you can carry your own goods, and other people’s goods, both in the United Kingdom and on international journeys.

After you get a standard international licence, you can also request the issue of a UK Licence for the Community. A UK Licence for the Community allows:

• trips between all European Union member countries
• transit traffic through EU member countries
• cabotage (a journey entirely within one EU country)

How to apply for a standard international licence

You can apply online on the nidirect website.

You can also find out more about licence fees, the standards of fitness and finances required, and how to make changes or renew a licence.

You need an UK Licence for the Community if you make journeys for hire or reward within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

It’s a single permit that covers trips between these countries. It also allows transit traffic through these countries to and from non-EU countries - but you need extra permits for the non-EU countries.

The UK Licence for the Community also allows you to carry out a limited number of haulage jobs inside an EU country (called ‘cabotage’) or between two EU countries (called ‘cross-trade’).

There are no limits on the number of available licences.

Eligibility

You must have a standard international vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland to apply for a UK Licence for the Community.

Where you can use the licences

You can use UK Licences for the Community in the 27 EU countries and three other countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Apply for licences

Call DVSA get a licence. You need your vehicle operator licence number.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

UK Licences for the Community are valid until the 5-yearly renewal date of your operator’s licence.

Fees

There’s no fee for UK Licences for the Community if you have a standard international vehicle operator licence.

Rules for using the licences

You can only use licences that have been issued to you. You cannot transfer them to another operator or company.

The licence includes:

• an office copy - you must keep this at your main office so that it can be inspected by enforcement agencies
• certified copies - you can get a certified copy for each of the vehicles authorised by your standard international vehicle operator licence

Certified copies of the licences are not specific to any one vehicle.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry a certified copy of your UK Licence for the Community in your vehicle when transporting goods in or through EU countries.

You must also carry a certified copy if you’re transporting goods using another type of permit.

The driver must show it to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen licences

You must tell DVSA if your documents are lost, damaged or stolen.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return the office copy and certified copies to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for permits for nine non-EU countries that the United Kingdom has agreements with to transport goods to or through those countries. These countries are: 

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Each country has single-journey permits. Whether or not you need a permit depends on:

• the size of the vehicle
• the nature of the goods being carried

Special permits for Morocco

There are also two extra types of permits for Morocco to:

• enter Morocco with an empty vehicle
• take in filming equipment and material for film or TV products, or equipment for exhibitions (including racing)

Types of permits for Azerbaijan

Depending on the type of journey you are carrying out, you will need to use one of 2 different types of permit for Azerbaijan.

Bilateral or transit journey permits

These permits let you complete either a:

• bilateral journey between the UK and Azerbaijan
• transit journey across Azerbaijan to a third country - additional permits may be required for travel to the third country

Azerbaijan or third country permits

These permits let you complete a journey between a third country and Azerbaijan. Additional permits may be required for travel to the third country.

Eligibility

You must have the right type of vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland for the goods you’re transporting to apply for a permit.

Where you can use the permits

You can use the permits to travel to or through:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey (you only need a permit when you’re continuing on to another third-country)
• Ukraine (you only need a permit if you have a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle)

You also need a permit for ‘own account’ journeys to:

• Belarus
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

Single-journey permits are valid for one complete journey. The outward and return trips count as one complete journey.

Multiple-journey permits are available for Morocco which authorises 15 return trips during the validity of the permit.

Apply for permits

Download and fill in the application form.

Send it to DVSA at least 5 working days before you start your journey from the UK.

Include a cheque or postal order to pay the fee. If you want to pay by debit or credit card, DVSA will contact you to take the payment when your application arrives.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Apply for road haulage permits for some non-EU countries
(ODT, 45KB).

Fees

Rules for using the permits

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

You must return all special entry permits for Morocco within 15 days of them expiring - whether you’ve used them or not.

What to do when you make journeys

You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey.

You need to show the permit at the border, and you’ll be allowed to pass into or through that country.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return unused permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

Get help with bilateral international road haulage permits

Contact the DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office to get help with bilateral permits.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office

irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Last updated: 4 December 2025

European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) permits allow you to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through ECMT member countries.

You need to follow rules about using your ECMT permits, including your drivers carrying the right documents.

Check if you need ECMT permits

You can use ECMT international road haulage permits for journeys between 43 ECMT member countries:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

A limited number of ECMT permits are available. However, you can usually make journeys to 42 of these 43 countries without an ECMT permit.

EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

You only need your UK Licence for the Community if your journey is between the UK and an EU country, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.

You do not need an ECMT permit.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU

You can use your UK Licence for the Community to carry out two cross-trade jobs (moving goods between two countries) in the EU.

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a third cross-trade job. The ECMT permit will let you carry out three cross-trade jobs between any ECMT country.

Cross-trade jobs between EU and non-EU countries

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job between the EU and a non-EU country. The non-EU country must be an ECMT member country.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU following an unladen journey from the UK

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job within the EU after an unladen journey from the UK.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine

You do not usually need any permits to transport goods to, through or from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

However, you need to get a bilateral road haulage permit if you’re travelling:

• through Turkey to another country
• in Ukraine using a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia

You can get bilateral road haulage permits instead of ECMT permits if your journey involves Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia.

Unlike ECMT permits, many more of these permits are available.

Armenia

You must have an ECMT permit to transport goods to, through or from Armenia.

If your journey also includes any other ECMT countries, you should:

• use your ECMT permit for the journey
• not apply for separate bilateral permits - you cannot use a bilateral road haulage permit at the same time as an ECMT permit

What you cannot use ECMT permits for

You cannot use ECMT permits:

• to travel through ECMT countries to countries that are not in the scheme
• for cabotage (loading and unloading goods for hire or reward between two points in a country by a vehicle that’s not registered in that country)

Eligibility

To apply for an ECMT permit, you must:

• have a vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland
• have Euro VI or Euro V emissions standard vehicles (depending on the type of permit you’re applying for)

Apply for permits

Rules for using the permits

You must carry your UK Licence for the Community during any journeys to or through EU countries when you’re using an ECMT permit.

You can use an ECMT permit to make an unlimited number of journeys within:

• a calendar year, if you have an annual permit
• 30 days of the start date on the permit, if you have a short-term permit

You have to return to the UK after every third journey.

You can only use your original permit. You cannot:

• make copies of it
• transfer it to other vehicle operators or businesses
• use it in more than one vehicle at a time

Do not laminate the permit, as it may be stamped at checkpoints.

Example

If you have 10 ECMT permits, you can have a maximum of 10 vehicles making journeys to or through ECMT countries at once.

When a vehicle returns to the UK, you can use the same permit to make another journey during the period it is valid for, or you can move the permit to another vehicle on your operator licences. That vehicle can then make journeys to or through ECMT countries.

If you have more than one vehicle operator licence

You can use an ECMT permit for a vehicle assigned to any of your operator licences. It’s not allocated to a specific operator licence.

You’re not allowed to transfer a permit to another business entity, for example, a sister company.

Rules for the vehicles and trailers

You cannot use ECMT permits you’re allocated:

• for unaccompanied trailers or semi-trailers
• with vehicles of a lower Euro emissions class to that shown on the permit (for example, you cannot use a Euro VI permit in a Euro V vehicle, but you can use a Euro V permit in a Euro VI vehicle)

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ in your vehicle and trailer. They must confirm the vehicle meets the correct Euro emissions standard and the trailer meets the technical safety requirements.

If your permit application is successful, request a certificate from your vehicle or trailer manufacturer, or email DVSA for advice.

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for your vehicle and trailer.

If your permit application is successful and you do not already have a certificate, apply online to get one.

Apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness.

Before you start

To apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness, you need:

• your username and password if you’ve used the service to manage your vehicle operator licence before (you can register in the service if you’ve not used it before)
• the vehicle registration number (number plate)
• the trailer registration number or ID number from DVLA (if you’re applying for a trailer)
• the vehicle or trailer type and make
• the certificate of compliance number (leave this blank if you do not have the number)
• vehicle identification number (VIN)
• engine type and number

Meet the ECMT Quality Charter

You must meet the ECMT Quality Charter requirements.

If you have a standard international operator licence

You already meet the requirements of the charter if you have a standard international operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence you need to:

• have a transport manager
• give proof you have the higher levels of financial standing needed for a standard international licence

You can also apply for a standard international licence to show you meet the ECMT Quality Charter.

Fill in the ECMT log book before a journey

Each ECMT permit comes with a log book.

Before you start a journey, fill in the permit’s log book (in pen, not pencil) with a full record of all the journey’s details.

If you make a mistake, cross it out. Make sure the mistake is still readable, as it may need to be checked.

What drivers need to carry during journeys

The driver will need to carry these documents for all of the outward and return journey:

• the ECMT permit
• the ECMT permit log book (plus the issued translation sheets)
• the ECMT certificate of compliance for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)
• a certificate of roadworthiness for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)

The driver must show the documents at checkpoints when asked.

Find out how different countries carry out checks.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Send journey records to DVSA

If you have an annual ECMT permit, you must send the original (top sheet) for each completed page of the ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of your return to the UK.

You must send the complete ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of the permit’s expiry date.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

You should also tell the police if a permit is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

Send your ECMT permits and log books to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for a permit for laden or empty journeys if you’re a specialist removal company and you move household goods and business possessions between or across European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) countries.

There are no limits on the number of available permits.

Eligibility

You must:

• have a standard international operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international operator licence for Northern Ireland
• use specialised equipment and staff for removal operations

What you need ECMT permits for

You need an ECMT permit to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through the EU (except Cyprus), Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to these 13 countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Apply for permits

Apply for a permit at least 5 working days before you start your removal journey from the UK.

To apply, you need:

• your username and password to manage your vehicle operator licence
• a debit or credit card to pay the application fee

When you sign in, select the Permits tab to apply.

Start your application now.

Fees

Each permit costs £18 and lasts for one year.

You can only use a permit for one vehicle at a time.

Rules for using the permits

You must only use the permit for moving and removing household goods and business possessions.

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey. This includes an unladen journey before or after a laden one.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return your permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

‘Own account’ is where either:

• your vehicle is only carrying goods in connection with your own business
• your delivery contents are not for hire or reward

Own account journeys in the EU

You do not need a UK Licence for the Community for own account journeys between the United Kingdom and the European Union if the following conditions apply:

• the goods you’re carrying are your property, or have been sold, bought, let out on hire or hired, produced, extracted, processed or repaired by you
• the journey’s purpose is to carry the goods to or from your premises or to move them for your own requirements
• you employ the drivers, or they’re put at your disposal for your own requirements
• you either own the vehicles carrying the goods, have bought them on deferred terms, or have hired them
• transporting the goods is only to support your main business activity - transporting goods cannot be your main business activity

Own-account operators who are carrying goods for a commercial purpose will still be subject to cabotage and cross-trade rules when operating in the EU.

Extra documents for Cyprus or Hungary

For own account journeys between the UK and Cyprus or Hungary, you must carry documents in the vehicle that show:

• the name and address of the operator
• the operator’s trade or business
• the nature of the goods being carried
• loading and unloading points
• registration number of the vehicle being used
• the route the haulage takes

You may be asked to provide evidence of the ownership of the goods.

Own account journeys in non-EU countries

You must have a bilateral international road haulage permit for own account journeys to some non-EU countries the UK has agreements with - check which non-EU countries you need the permit for.

As a United Kingdom operator, before your drivers transport goods between two points in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for commercial purposes, you must declare the details on an EU portal.

Declaring the details is known as making a posting declaration.

There are no fees to make a posting declaration.

Types of journeys you must declare

You must declare:

• cabotage jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them at another point in the same country using a UK-registered vehicle)
• cross-trade jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them in another of these countries using a UK-registered vehicle)
• moving goods for your own business’ use inside these countries, including if your business is not mainly about moving goods

Find out how many cabotage and cross-trade jobs you’re allowed to do.

You must make a declaration when you use any of these vehicles to transport the goods:

• heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
• HGVs towing trailers
• vans of any size or other light goods vehicles (sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

Journeys inside Ireland

You need to declare journeys inside Ireland if they’re covered by the rules. This includes if you’re a Northern Ireland vehicle operator.

What you do not need to declare

You do not need to declare when your drivers are using an empty vehicle.

You also do not need to declare when your driver is transporting goods:

• from the UK to one place in Europe, where you can both unload and load goods
• from the UK to Europe, and you unload goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot load goods in Europe)
• from Europe to the UK, and you load goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot unload goods in Europe)
• from the UK to a non-European country (but you cannot load or unload the goods while you’re in Europe)

Create an account on the EU portal

You need to create an account for your company on the EU portal before you can declare a journey.

When you’ve created your company account, you can invite other people from your company to have access.

To create an account, you need information about your:

• company
• transport manager
• drivers

Company information

To create your account, you need your company’s:

• name
• address
• country of registration
• email address
• VAT number
• registration number
• UK Licence for the Community number

Transport manager information

To create your account, you need your transport manager’s:

• name
• office address
• email address
• telephone number
• CPC certificate number

Driver information

To create your account, you need this information for each of your drivers who drive in Europe:

• full name
• date of birth
• email address
• home address
• driving licence number
• driver card number
• internal reference number (for example, their employee number)
• ID document (for example, a passport) - you’ll need the document number, the issue date, the expiry date, and which country issued it
• start date of the drivers’ employment contract with you
• applicable law (which country’s law they’re employed under)

If you have lots of drivers, you can upload their details in a spreadsheet. When you’ve signed in, select the Driver menu, and then Upload driver(s). You can then download a spreadsheet template to use and upload.

If you get an ‘Access Denied’ error message

You might get an ‘Access Denied’ error message at times. This can happen if you:

• select ‘Go to my account’ but have not registered on the portal - you need to create a company account or be invited to join one
• were in the process of creating a new company account - select ‘Reload application’ and then ‘Create account’ - the company creation process will then resume
• have been invited by email and signed in with an EU login account - you need to restart the invitation process from the link you were sent in the invitation email - the registration process will then resume

Declare your journeys (make a posting declaration)

You must make a separate posting declaration for each country each driver will transport goods in.

You can choose to either:

• make a posting declaration for each individual journey a driver makes in each country
• make a posting declaration of up to 6 months for a driver to cover all journeys they’ll make in each country during that time

When you’ve made a posting declaration for one country, you can copy that declaration and change the country (if all the other information is the same).

You need:

• the start and end dates of the posting (this can be up to 6 months long)
• the type of operation - you can select cabotage, international carriage (cross-trade) or both (select both if there’s a chance of short notice cabotage jobs - it does not matter if you actually do not end up doing any)
• the vehicle registration (number plates) of the vehicles you’re using (you can add more than one if your driver will be driving multiple vehicles)
• contact details for your transport manager or another contact person in the UK (so European countries can ask for further documents)

You will get penalties if you do not make a declaration.

Start now

Documents your driver needs to carry

Your driver must carry a digital or physical copy of the information you declare for the journey.

Your driver will get penalties from the enforcement authorities in the European countries they’re stopped in if they do not have a copy.

Your driver also still needs all of the usual:

• vehicle and trailer documents
• driver documents - including tachograph records
• export documents - including an electronic consignment note (e-CMR) or a paper CMR

Respond to requests from other countries for copies of documents

Enforcement authorities in EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway can ask you (as the operator) for:

• copies of the documents that drivers have to carry
• documents about the driver’s pay during the journey, their employment contract and timesheets for their work

You must upload the information you’re asked to the EU portal within 8 weeks of being asked for it.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain or the Transport Regulation Unit in Northern Ireland will be able to take action against you if you do not upload the information.

More information

Check the EU postings portal help section for more information.

Since 21 May 2022, anyone operating a light goods vehicle and/or trailer between 2.5 and 3.5 tons in a European Union member state is required to have a goods vehicle operator’s licence.

This only applies to anyone operating a light goods vehicle for hire or reward. This means that goods, not owned by the operator, are being transported for payment.

The new rules will also apply to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The Department for Infrastructure is working to change the law to enable goods vehicle licences to be issued to anyone affected by these new rules.

What to do if you think you may be affected

Check that your business comes within the scope of the changes.

You will only be in-scope if you carry goods for other people in another EU member state (including the Republic of Ireland); and use vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tons maximum gross vehicle weight which are:

• vans or other light goods vehicles (LGVs; sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

If you are in-scope, you will need to either:

• add the relevant LGVs to your goods vehicle operator licence (if you already have one)
• get a goods vehicle operator licence for the first time

What to do if you need a new operator’s licence

There are a number of requirements which you must meet before you can apply for a goods vehicle operator’s licence.  You must be prepared to agree to a number of undertakings to make arrangements for proper loading of vehicles, maintenance of records, etc.  

Professional Competence

You’ll need to prove that either you or your company have sufficient professional competence to run your operations safely and efficiently, particularly as regards:

• planning routes and scheduling delivery times
• managing your team of drivers and administration staff
• making sure drivers follow company and industry regulations
• arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments
• organising vehicle replacements

Professional competence is assessed by means of a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).  You may already have this qualification. 

If not, you’ll be able to either:

• use an existing member of staff (including yourself) who is not qualified as a transport manager, but has managed fleets of vehicles for at least 10 years before 20 August 2020
• employ someone with a transport manager qualification -called a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
• hire in an external qualified transport manager

Option 1: use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC – the ‘Acquired Rights’ scheme

If you decide to use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC, they will need to prove they have at least 10 years of experience managing fleets of vehicles before 20 August 2020.

They’ll be able to apply to have their experience recognised as ‘acquired rights’ to be a transport manager.  This means that they’ll be treated as having the Transport Manager CPC for a period of time.

The government has proposed they will have acquired rights until 20 May 2025, but this could change. During this time, they’ll need to pass a Transport Manager CPC exam.

After they’ve qualified, they’ll need to keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies. They can take transport manager refresher courses to help them do this.

Option 2: employ someone with a transport manager qualification

You can employ someone with a Transport Manager CPC qualification.

You need to make sure they keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies.

Option 3: hire in an external transport manager

You can ‘hire in’ an external transport manager.  They’re not someone on your payroll, but they have a contract with you to act as your transport manager. You must:

• have a contract with them that sets out the tasks they’ll perform as your transport manager
• make sure they only work for a maximum of 4 vehicle operators (including you), managing no more than 50 vehicles in total across all the operators

More information is available in the Driver Vehicle Agency's safe operator's guide.

Finance that you must have available

By law, you need to prove that you have access to a set amount of finance to run your business. The amount you need depends on how many vehicles you have.

You must have £1,600 available for the first vehicle in your fleet. You need an extra £800 per additional vehicle in your fleet.

Example

You have a fleet of 5 vans.

You need to have £1,600 for the first van.

You then need £800 each for the remaining 4 vans (£800 × 4 = £3,200).

You need to prove you have access to funds of at least £4,800 (£1,600 + £3,200).

If you are running a mixed fleet of HGVs and LGVs the calculation will take account of the LGV rate. 

Establishment in Northern Ireland

If you’re applying for a goods vehicle operator’s licence for LGVs only, you don’t have to meet the same requirements for an operating centre as would be necessary for HGVs. 

You will need to provide an address within the UK where the original records of the business will be kept.  You may have to provide access to these records from time to time. The records may be maintained electronically. 

If you already have a goods vehicle operator’s licence, then you will need to apply for a variation to that licence for any in-scope LGVs you wish to operate in the EU (including the Republic of Ireland).

Cost of a licence

There are fees for operators licences and variations to those licences. If you apply for a new licence, or a make a publishable change to an existing licence, you must pay a one-off £254 application fee.

If your licence application is successful, you will then have to pay a licensing fee of £449 which covers a period of five years. A fee of £449 is also payable at the end of the five year period if you wish to continue your existing licence.

A standard international licence means you can carry your own goods, and other people’s goods, both in the United Kingdom and on international journeys.

After you get a standard international licence, you can also request the issue of a UK Licence for the Community. A UK Licence for the Community allows:

• trips between all European Union member countries
• transit traffic through EU member countries
• cabotage (a journey entirely within one EU country)

How to apply for a standard international licence

You can apply online on the nidirect website.

You can also find out more about licence fees, the standards of fitness and finances required, and how to make changes or renew a licence.

You need an UK Licence for the Community if you make journeys for hire or reward within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

It’s a single permit that covers trips between these countries. It also allows transit traffic through these countries to and from non-EU countries - but you need extra permits for the non-EU countries.

The UK Licence for the Community also allows you to carry out a limited number of haulage jobs inside an EU country (called ‘cabotage’) or between two EU countries (called ‘cross-trade’).

There are no limits on the number of available licences.

Eligibility

You must have a standard international vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland to apply for a UK Licence for the Community.

Where you can use the licences

You can use UK Licences for the Community in the 27 EU countries and three other countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Apply for licences

Call DVSA get a licence. You need your vehicle operator licence number.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

UK Licences for the Community are valid until the 5-yearly renewal date of your operator’s licence.

Fees

There’s no fee for UK Licences for the Community if you have a standard international vehicle operator licence.

Rules for using the licences

You can only use licences that have been issued to you. You cannot transfer them to another operator or company.

The licence includes:

• an office copy - you must keep this at your main office so that it can be inspected by enforcement agencies
• certified copies - you can get a certified copy for each of the vehicles authorised by your standard international vehicle operator licence

Certified copies of the licences are not specific to any one vehicle.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry a certified copy of your UK Licence for the Community in your vehicle when transporting goods in or through EU countries.

You must also carry a certified copy if you’re transporting goods using another type of permit.

The driver must show it to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen licences

You must tell DVSA if your documents are lost, damaged or stolen.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return the office copy and certified copies to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for permits for nine non-EU countries that the United Kingdom has agreements with to transport goods to or through those countries. These countries are: 

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Each country has single-journey permits. Whether or not you need a permit depends on:

• the size of the vehicle
• the nature of the goods being carried

Special permits for Morocco

There are also two extra types of permits for Morocco to:

• enter Morocco with an empty vehicle
• take in filming equipment and material for film or TV products, or equipment for exhibitions (including racing)

Types of permits for Azerbaijan

Depending on the type of journey you are carrying out, you will need to use one of 2 different types of permit for Azerbaijan.

Bilateral or transit journey permits

These permits let you complete either a:

• bilateral journey between the UK and Azerbaijan
• transit journey across Azerbaijan to a third country - additional permits may be required for travel to the third country

Azerbaijan or third country permits

These permits let you complete a journey between a third country and Azerbaijan. Additional permits may be required for travel to the third country.

Eligibility

You must have the right type of vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland for the goods you’re transporting to apply for a permit.

Where you can use the permits

You can use the permits to travel to or through:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey (you only need a permit when you’re continuing on to another third-country)
• Ukraine (you only need a permit if you have a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle)

You also need a permit for ‘own account’ journeys to:

• Belarus
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

Single-journey permits are valid for one complete journey. The outward and return trips count as one complete journey.

Multiple-journey permits are available for Morocco which authorises 15 return trips during the validity of the permit.

Apply for permits

Download and fill in the application form.

Send it to DVSA at least 5 working days before you start your journey from the UK.

Include a cheque or postal order to pay the fee. If you want to pay by debit or credit card, DVSA will contact you to take the payment when your application arrives.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Apply for road haulage permits for some non-EU countries
(ODT, 45KB).

Fees

Rules for using the permits

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

You must return all special entry permits for Morocco within 15 days of them expiring - whether you’ve used them or not.

What to do when you make journeys

You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey.

You need to show the permit at the border, and you’ll be allowed to pass into or through that country.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return unused permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

Get help with bilateral international road haulage permits

Contact the DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office to get help with bilateral permits.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office

irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Last updated: 4 December 2025

European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) permits allow you to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through ECMT member countries.

You need to follow rules about using your ECMT permits, including your drivers carrying the right documents.

Check if you need ECMT permits

You can use ECMT international road haulage permits for journeys between 43 ECMT member countries:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

A limited number of ECMT permits are available. However, you can usually make journeys to 42 of these 43 countries without an ECMT permit.

EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

You only need your UK Licence for the Community if your journey is between the UK and an EU country, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.

You do not need an ECMT permit.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU

You can use your UK Licence for the Community to carry out two cross-trade jobs (moving goods between two countries) in the EU.

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a third cross-trade job. The ECMT permit will let you carry out three cross-trade jobs between any ECMT country.

Cross-trade jobs between EU and non-EU countries

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job between the EU and a non-EU country. The non-EU country must be an ECMT member country.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU following an unladen journey from the UK

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job within the EU after an unladen journey from the UK.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine

You do not usually need any permits to transport goods to, through or from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

However, you need to get a bilateral road haulage permit if you’re travelling:

• through Turkey to another country
• in Ukraine using a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia

You can get bilateral road haulage permits instead of ECMT permits if your journey involves Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia.

Unlike ECMT permits, many more of these permits are available.

Armenia

You must have an ECMT permit to transport goods to, through or from Armenia.

If your journey also includes any other ECMT countries, you should:

• use your ECMT permit for the journey
• not apply for separate bilateral permits - you cannot use a bilateral road haulage permit at the same time as an ECMT permit

What you cannot use ECMT permits for

You cannot use ECMT permits:

• to travel through ECMT countries to countries that are not in the scheme
• for cabotage (loading and unloading goods for hire or reward between two points in a country by a vehicle that’s not registered in that country)

Eligibility

To apply for an ECMT permit, you must:

• have a vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland
• have Euro VI or Euro V emissions standard vehicles (depending on the type of permit you’re applying for)

Apply for permits

Rules for using the permits

You must carry your UK Licence for the Community during any journeys to or through EU countries when you’re using an ECMT permit.

You can use an ECMT permit to make an unlimited number of journeys within:

• a calendar year, if you have an annual permit
• 30 days of the start date on the permit, if you have a short-term permit

You have to return to the UK after every third journey.

You can only use your original permit. You cannot:

• make copies of it
• transfer it to other vehicle operators or businesses
• use it in more than one vehicle at a time

Do not laminate the permit, as it may be stamped at checkpoints.

Example

If you have 10 ECMT permits, you can have a maximum of 10 vehicles making journeys to or through ECMT countries at once.

When a vehicle returns to the UK, you can use the same permit to make another journey during the period it is valid for, or you can move the permit to another vehicle on your operator licences. That vehicle can then make journeys to or through ECMT countries.

If you have more than one vehicle operator licence

You can use an ECMT permit for a vehicle assigned to any of your operator licences. It’s not allocated to a specific operator licence.

You’re not allowed to transfer a permit to another business entity, for example, a sister company.

Rules for the vehicles and trailers

You cannot use ECMT permits you’re allocated:

• for unaccompanied trailers or semi-trailers
• with vehicles of a lower Euro emissions class to that shown on the permit (for example, you cannot use a Euro VI permit in a Euro V vehicle, but you can use a Euro V permit in a Euro VI vehicle)

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ in your vehicle and trailer. They must confirm the vehicle meets the correct Euro emissions standard and the trailer meets the technical safety requirements.

If your permit application is successful, request a certificate from your vehicle or trailer manufacturer, or email DVSA for advice.

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for your vehicle and trailer.

If your permit application is successful and you do not already have a certificate, apply online to get one.

Apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness.

Before you start

To apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness, you need:

• your username and password if you’ve used the service to manage your vehicle operator licence before (you can register in the service if you’ve not used it before)
• the vehicle registration number (number plate)
• the trailer registration number or ID number from DVLA (if you’re applying for a trailer)
• the vehicle or trailer type and make
• the certificate of compliance number (leave this blank if you do not have the number)
• vehicle identification number (VIN)
• engine type and number

Meet the ECMT Quality Charter

You must meet the ECMT Quality Charter requirements.

If you have a standard international operator licence

You already meet the requirements of the charter if you have a standard international operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence you need to:

• have a transport manager
• give proof you have the higher levels of financial standing needed for a standard international licence

You can also apply for a standard international licence to show you meet the ECMT Quality Charter.

Fill in the ECMT log book before a journey

Each ECMT permit comes with a log book.

Before you start a journey, fill in the permit’s log book (in pen, not pencil) with a full record of all the journey’s details.

If you make a mistake, cross it out. Make sure the mistake is still readable, as it may need to be checked.

What drivers need to carry during journeys

The driver will need to carry these documents for all of the outward and return journey:

• the ECMT permit
• the ECMT permit log book (plus the issued translation sheets)
• the ECMT certificate of compliance for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)
• a certificate of roadworthiness for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)

The driver must show the documents at checkpoints when asked.

Find out how different countries carry out checks.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Send journey records to DVSA

If you have an annual ECMT permit, you must send the original (top sheet) for each completed page of the ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of your return to the UK.

You must send the complete ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of the permit’s expiry date.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

You should also tell the police if a permit is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

Send your ECMT permits and log books to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for a permit for laden or empty journeys if you’re a specialist removal company and you move household goods and business possessions between or across European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) countries.

There are no limits on the number of available permits.

Eligibility

You must:

• have a standard international operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international operator licence for Northern Ireland
• use specialised equipment and staff for removal operations

What you need ECMT permits for

You need an ECMT permit to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through the EU (except Cyprus), Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to these 13 countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Apply for permits

Apply for a permit at least 5 working days before you start your removal journey from the UK.

To apply, you need:

• your username and password to manage your vehicle operator licence
• a debit or credit card to pay the application fee

When you sign in, select the Permits tab to apply.

Start your application now.

Fees

Each permit costs £18 and lasts for one year.

You can only use a permit for one vehicle at a time.

Rules for using the permits

You must only use the permit for moving and removing household goods and business possessions.

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey. This includes an unladen journey before or after a laden one.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return your permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

‘Own account’ is where either:

• your vehicle is only carrying goods in connection with your own business
• your delivery contents are not for hire or reward

Own account journeys in the EU

You do not need a UK Licence for the Community for own account journeys between the United Kingdom and the European Union if the following conditions apply:

• the goods you’re carrying are your property, or have been sold, bought, let out on hire or hired, produced, extracted, processed or repaired by you
• the journey’s purpose is to carry the goods to or from your premises or to move them for your own requirements
• you employ the drivers, or they’re put at your disposal for your own requirements
• you either own the vehicles carrying the goods, have bought them on deferred terms, or have hired them
• transporting the goods is only to support your main business activity - transporting goods cannot be your main business activity

Own-account operators who are carrying goods for a commercial purpose will still be subject to cabotage and cross-trade rules when operating in the EU.

Extra documents for Cyprus or Hungary

For own account journeys between the UK and Cyprus or Hungary, you must carry documents in the vehicle that show:

• the name and address of the operator
• the operator’s trade or business
• the nature of the goods being carried
• loading and unloading points
• registration number of the vehicle being used
• the route the haulage takes

You may be asked to provide evidence of the ownership of the goods.

Own account journeys in non-EU countries

You must have a bilateral international road haulage permit for own account journeys to some non-EU countries the UK has agreements with - check which non-EU countries you need the permit for.

As a United Kingdom operator, before your drivers transport goods between two points in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for commercial purposes, you must declare the details on an EU portal.

Declaring the details is known as making a posting declaration.

There are no fees to make a posting declaration.

Types of journeys you must declare

You must declare:

• cabotage jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them at another point in the same country using a UK-registered vehicle)
• cross-trade jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them in another of these countries using a UK-registered vehicle)
• moving goods for your own business’ use inside these countries, including if your business is not mainly about moving goods

Find out how many cabotage and cross-trade jobs you’re allowed to do.

You must make a declaration when you use any of these vehicles to transport the goods:

• heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
• HGVs towing trailers
• vans of any size or other light goods vehicles (sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

Journeys inside Ireland

You need to declare journeys inside Ireland if they’re covered by the rules. This includes if you’re a Northern Ireland vehicle operator.

What you do not need to declare

You do not need to declare when your drivers are using an empty vehicle.

You also do not need to declare when your driver is transporting goods:

• from the UK to one place in Europe, where you can both unload and load goods
• from the UK to Europe, and you unload goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot load goods in Europe)
• from Europe to the UK, and you load goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot unload goods in Europe)
• from the UK to a non-European country (but you cannot load or unload the goods while you’re in Europe)

Create an account on the EU portal

You need to create an account for your company on the EU portal before you can declare a journey.

When you’ve created your company account, you can invite other people from your company to have access.

To create an account, you need information about your:

• company
• transport manager
• drivers

Company information

To create your account, you need your company’s:

• name
• address
• country of registration
• email address
• VAT number
• registration number
• UK Licence for the Community number

Transport manager information

To create your account, you need your transport manager’s:

• name
• office address
• email address
• telephone number
• CPC certificate number

Driver information

To create your account, you need this information for each of your drivers who drive in Europe:

• full name
• date of birth
• email address
• home address
• driving licence number
• driver card number
• internal reference number (for example, their employee number)
• ID document (for example, a passport) - you’ll need the document number, the issue date, the expiry date, and which country issued it
• start date of the drivers’ employment contract with you
• applicable law (which country’s law they’re employed under)

If you have lots of drivers, you can upload their details in a spreadsheet. When you’ve signed in, select the Driver menu, and then Upload driver(s). You can then download a spreadsheet template to use and upload.

If you get an ‘Access Denied’ error message

You might get an ‘Access Denied’ error message at times. This can happen if you:

• select ‘Go to my account’ but have not registered on the portal - you need to create a company account or be invited to join one
• were in the process of creating a new company account - select ‘Reload application’ and then ‘Create account’ - the company creation process will then resume
• have been invited by email and signed in with an EU login account - you need to restart the invitation process from the link you were sent in the invitation email - the registration process will then resume

Declare your journeys (make a posting declaration)

You must make a separate posting declaration for each country each driver will transport goods in.

You can choose to either:

• make a posting declaration for each individual journey a driver makes in each country
• make a posting declaration of up to 6 months for a driver to cover all journeys they’ll make in each country during that time

When you’ve made a posting declaration for one country, you can copy that declaration and change the country (if all the other information is the same).

You need:

• the start and end dates of the posting (this can be up to 6 months long)
• the type of operation - you can select cabotage, international carriage (cross-trade) or both (select both if there’s a chance of short notice cabotage jobs - it does not matter if you actually do not end up doing any)
• the vehicle registration (number plates) of the vehicles you’re using (you can add more than one if your driver will be driving multiple vehicles)
• contact details for your transport manager or another contact person in the UK (so European countries can ask for further documents)

You will get penalties if you do not make a declaration.

Start now

Documents your driver needs to carry

Your driver must carry a digital or physical copy of the information you declare for the journey.

Your driver will get penalties from the enforcement authorities in the European countries they’re stopped in if they do not have a copy.

Your driver also still needs all of the usual:

• vehicle and trailer documents
• driver documents - including tachograph records
• export documents - including an electronic consignment note (e-CMR) or a paper CMR

Respond to requests from other countries for copies of documents

Enforcement authorities in EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway can ask you (as the operator) for:

• copies of the documents that drivers have to carry
• documents about the driver’s pay during the journey, their employment contract and timesheets for their work

You must upload the information you’re asked to the EU portal within 8 weeks of being asked for it.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain or the Transport Regulation Unit in Northern Ireland will be able to take action against you if you do not upload the information.

More information

Check the EU postings portal help section for more information.

Since 21 May 2022, anyone operating a light goods vehicle and/or trailer between 2.5 and 3.5 tons in a European Union member state is required to have a goods vehicle operator’s licence.

This only applies to anyone operating a light goods vehicle for hire or reward. This means that goods, not owned by the operator, are being transported for payment.

The new rules will also apply to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The Department for Infrastructure is working to change the law to enable goods vehicle licences to be issued to anyone affected by these new rules.

What to do if you think you may be affected

Check that your business comes within the scope of the changes.

You will only be in-scope if you carry goods for other people in another EU member state (including the Republic of Ireland); and use vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tons maximum gross vehicle weight which are:

• vans or other light goods vehicles (LGVs; sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

If you are in-scope, you will need to either:

• add the relevant LGVs to your goods vehicle operator licence (if you already have one)
• get a goods vehicle operator licence for the first time

What to do if you need a new operator’s licence

There are a number of requirements which you must meet before you can apply for a goods vehicle operator’s licence.  You must be prepared to agree to a number of undertakings to make arrangements for proper loading of vehicles, maintenance of records, etc.  

Professional Competence

You’ll need to prove that either you or your company have sufficient professional competence to run your operations safely and efficiently, particularly as regards:

• planning routes and scheduling delivery times
• managing your team of drivers and administration staff
• making sure drivers follow company and industry regulations
• arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments
• organising vehicle replacements

Professional competence is assessed by means of a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).  You may already have this qualification. 

If not, you’ll be able to either:

• use an existing member of staff (including yourself) who is not qualified as a transport manager, but has managed fleets of vehicles for at least 10 years before 20 August 2020
• employ someone with a transport manager qualification -called a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
• hire in an external qualified transport manager

Option 1: use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC – the ‘Acquired Rights’ scheme

If you decide to use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC, they will need to prove they have at least 10 years of experience managing fleets of vehicles before 20 August 2020.

They’ll be able to apply to have their experience recognised as ‘acquired rights’ to be a transport manager.  This means that they’ll be treated as having the Transport Manager CPC for a period of time.

The government has proposed they will have acquired rights until 20 May 2025, but this could change. During this time, they’ll need to pass a Transport Manager CPC exam.

After they’ve qualified, they’ll need to keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies. They can take transport manager refresher courses to help them do this.

Option 2: employ someone with a transport manager qualification

You can employ someone with a Transport Manager CPC qualification.

You need to make sure they keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies.

Option 3: hire in an external transport manager

You can ‘hire in’ an external transport manager.  They’re not someone on your payroll, but they have a contract with you to act as your transport manager. You must:

• have a contract with them that sets out the tasks they’ll perform as your transport manager
• make sure they only work for a maximum of 4 vehicle operators (including you), managing no more than 50 vehicles in total across all the operators

More information is available in the Driver Vehicle Agency's safe operator's guide.

Finance that you must have available

By law, you need to prove that you have access to a set amount of finance to run your business. The amount you need depends on how many vehicles you have.

You must have £1,600 available for the first vehicle in your fleet. You need an extra £800 per additional vehicle in your fleet.

Example

You have a fleet of 5 vans.

You need to have £1,600 for the first van.

You then need £800 each for the remaining 4 vans (£800 × 4 = £3,200).

You need to prove you have access to funds of at least £4,800 (£1,600 + £3,200).

If you are running a mixed fleet of HGVs and LGVs the calculation will take account of the LGV rate. 

Establishment in Northern Ireland

If you’re applying for a goods vehicle operator’s licence for LGVs only, you don’t have to meet the same requirements for an operating centre as would be necessary for HGVs. 

You will need to provide an address within the UK where the original records of the business will be kept.  You may have to provide access to these records from time to time. The records may be maintained electronically. 

If you already have a goods vehicle operator’s licence, then you will need to apply for a variation to that licence for any in-scope LGVs you wish to operate in the EU (including the Republic of Ireland).

Cost of a licence

There are fees for operators licences and variations to those licences. If you apply for a new licence, or a make a publishable change to an existing licence, you must pay a one-off £254 application fee.

If your licence application is successful, you will then have to pay a licensing fee of £449 which covers a period of five years. A fee of £449 is also payable at the end of the five year period if you wish to continue your existing licence.

A standard international licence means you can carry your own goods, and other people’s goods, both in the United Kingdom and on international journeys.

After you get a standard international licence, you can also request the issue of a UK Licence for the Community. A UK Licence for the Community allows:

• trips between all European Union member countries
• transit traffic through EU member countries
• cabotage (a journey entirely within one EU country)

How to apply for a standard international licence

You can apply online on the nidirect website.

You can also find out more about licence fees, the standards of fitness and finances required, and how to make changes or renew a licence.

You need an UK Licence for the Community if you make journeys for hire or reward within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

It’s a single permit that covers trips between these countries. It also allows transit traffic through these countries to and from non-EU countries - but you need extra permits for the non-EU countries.

The UK Licence for the Community also allows you to carry out a limited number of haulage jobs inside an EU country (called ‘cabotage’) or between two EU countries (called ‘cross-trade’).

There are no limits on the number of available licences.

Eligibility

You must have a standard international vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland to apply for a UK Licence for the Community.

Where you can use the licences

You can use UK Licences for the Community in the 27 EU countries and three other countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Apply for licences

Call DVSA get a licence. You need your vehicle operator licence number.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

UK Licences for the Community are valid until the 5-yearly renewal date of your operator’s licence.

Fees

There’s no fee for UK Licences for the Community if you have a standard international vehicle operator licence.

Rules for using the licences

You can only use licences that have been issued to you. You cannot transfer them to another operator or company.

The licence includes:

• an office copy - you must keep this at your main office so that it can be inspected by enforcement agencies
• certified copies - you can get a certified copy for each of the vehicles authorised by your standard international vehicle operator licence

Certified copies of the licences are not specific to any one vehicle.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry a certified copy of your UK Licence for the Community in your vehicle when transporting goods in or through EU countries.

You must also carry a certified copy if you’re transporting goods using another type of permit.

The driver must show it to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen licences

You must tell DVSA if your documents are lost, damaged or stolen.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return the office copy and certified copies to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for permits for nine non-EU countries that the United Kingdom has agreements with to transport goods to or through those countries. These countries are: 

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Each country has single-journey permits. Whether or not you need a permit depends on:

• the size of the vehicle
• the nature of the goods being carried

Special permits for Morocco

There are also two extra types of permits for Morocco to:

• enter Morocco with an empty vehicle
• take in filming equipment and material for film or TV products, or equipment for exhibitions (including racing)

Types of permits for Azerbaijan

Depending on the type of journey you are carrying out, you will need to use one of 2 different types of permit for Azerbaijan.

Bilateral or transit journey permits

These permits let you complete either a:

• bilateral journey between the UK and Azerbaijan
• transit journey across Azerbaijan to a third country - additional permits may be required for travel to the third country

Azerbaijan or third country permits

These permits let you complete a journey between a third country and Azerbaijan. Additional permits may be required for travel to the third country.

Eligibility

You must have the right type of vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland for the goods you’re transporting to apply for a permit.

Where you can use the permits

You can use the permits to travel to or through:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey (you only need a permit when you’re continuing on to another third-country)
• Ukraine (you only need a permit if you have a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle)

You also need a permit for ‘own account’ journeys to:

• Belarus
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

Single-journey permits are valid for one complete journey. The outward and return trips count as one complete journey.

Multiple-journey permits are available for Morocco which authorises 15 return trips during the validity of the permit.

Apply for permits

Download and fill in the application form.

Send it to DVSA at least 5 working days before you start your journey from the UK.

Include a cheque or postal order to pay the fee. If you want to pay by debit or credit card, DVSA will contact you to take the payment when your application arrives.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Apply for road haulage permits for some non-EU countries
(ODT, 45KB).

Fees

Rules for using the permits

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

You must return all special entry permits for Morocco within 15 days of them expiring - whether you’ve used them or not.

What to do when you make journeys

You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey.

You need to show the permit at the border, and you’ll be allowed to pass into or through that country.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return unused permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

Get help with bilateral international road haulage permits

Contact the DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office to get help with bilateral permits.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office

irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Last updated: 4 December 2025

European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) permits allow you to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through ECMT member countries.

You need to follow rules about using your ECMT permits, including your drivers carrying the right documents.

Check if you need ECMT permits

You can use ECMT international road haulage permits for journeys between 43 ECMT member countries:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

A limited number of ECMT permits are available. However, you can usually make journeys to 42 of these 43 countries without an ECMT permit.

EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

You only need your UK Licence for the Community if your journey is between the UK and an EU country, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.

You do not need an ECMT permit.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU

You can use your UK Licence for the Community to carry out two cross-trade jobs (moving goods between two countries) in the EU.

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a third cross-trade job. The ECMT permit will let you carry out three cross-trade jobs between any ECMT country.

Cross-trade jobs between EU and non-EU countries

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job between the EU and a non-EU country. The non-EU country must be an ECMT member country.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU following an unladen journey from the UK

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job within the EU after an unladen journey from the UK.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine

You do not usually need any permits to transport goods to, through or from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

However, you need to get a bilateral road haulage permit if you’re travelling:

• through Turkey to another country
• in Ukraine using a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia

You can get bilateral road haulage permits instead of ECMT permits if your journey involves Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia.

Unlike ECMT permits, many more of these permits are available.

Armenia

You must have an ECMT permit to transport goods to, through or from Armenia.

If your journey also includes any other ECMT countries, you should:

• use your ECMT permit for the journey
• not apply for separate bilateral permits - you cannot use a bilateral road haulage permit at the same time as an ECMT permit

What you cannot use ECMT permits for

You cannot use ECMT permits:

• to travel through ECMT countries to countries that are not in the scheme
• for cabotage (loading and unloading goods for hire or reward between two points in a country by a vehicle that’s not registered in that country)

Eligibility

To apply for an ECMT permit, you must:

• have a vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland
• have Euro VI or Euro V emissions standard vehicles (depending on the type of permit you’re applying for)

Apply for permits

Rules for using the permits

You must carry your UK Licence for the Community during any journeys to or through EU countries when you’re using an ECMT permit.

You can use an ECMT permit to make an unlimited number of journeys within:

• a calendar year, if you have an annual permit
• 30 days of the start date on the permit, if you have a short-term permit

You have to return to the UK after every third journey.

You can only use your original permit. You cannot:

• make copies of it
• transfer it to other vehicle operators or businesses
• use it in more than one vehicle at a time

Do not laminate the permit, as it may be stamped at checkpoints.

Example

If you have 10 ECMT permits, you can have a maximum of 10 vehicles making journeys to or through ECMT countries at once.

When a vehicle returns to the UK, you can use the same permit to make another journey during the period it is valid for, or you can move the permit to another vehicle on your operator licences. That vehicle can then make journeys to or through ECMT countries.

If you have more than one vehicle operator licence

You can use an ECMT permit for a vehicle assigned to any of your operator licences. It’s not allocated to a specific operator licence.

You’re not allowed to transfer a permit to another business entity, for example, a sister company.

Rules for the vehicles and trailers

You cannot use ECMT permits you’re allocated:

• for unaccompanied trailers or semi-trailers
• with vehicles of a lower Euro emissions class to that shown on the permit (for example, you cannot use a Euro VI permit in a Euro V vehicle, but you can use a Euro V permit in a Euro VI vehicle)

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ in your vehicle and trailer. They must confirm the vehicle meets the correct Euro emissions standard and the trailer meets the technical safety requirements.

If your permit application is successful, request a certificate from your vehicle or trailer manufacturer, or email DVSA for advice.

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for your vehicle and trailer.

If your permit application is successful and you do not already have a certificate, apply online to get one.

Apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness.

Before you start

To apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness, you need:

• your username and password if you’ve used the service to manage your vehicle operator licence before (you can register in the service if you’ve not used it before)
• the vehicle registration number (number plate)
• the trailer registration number or ID number from DVLA (if you’re applying for a trailer)
• the vehicle or trailer type and make
• the certificate of compliance number (leave this blank if you do not have the number)
• vehicle identification number (VIN)
• engine type and number

Meet the ECMT Quality Charter

You must meet the ECMT Quality Charter requirements.

If you have a standard international operator licence

You already meet the requirements of the charter if you have a standard international operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence you need to:

• have a transport manager
• give proof you have the higher levels of financial standing needed for a standard international licence

You can also apply for a standard international licence to show you meet the ECMT Quality Charter.

Fill in the ECMT log book before a journey

Each ECMT permit comes with a log book.

Before you start a journey, fill in the permit’s log book (in pen, not pencil) with a full record of all the journey’s details.

If you make a mistake, cross it out. Make sure the mistake is still readable, as it may need to be checked.

What drivers need to carry during journeys

The driver will need to carry these documents for all of the outward and return journey:

• the ECMT permit
• the ECMT permit log book (plus the issued translation sheets)
• the ECMT certificate of compliance for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)
• a certificate of roadworthiness for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)

The driver must show the documents at checkpoints when asked.

Find out how different countries carry out checks.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Send journey records to DVSA

If you have an annual ECMT permit, you must send the original (top sheet) for each completed page of the ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of your return to the UK.

You must send the complete ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of the permit’s expiry date.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

You should also tell the police if a permit is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

Send your ECMT permits and log books to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for a permit for laden or empty journeys if you’re a specialist removal company and you move household goods and business possessions between or across European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) countries.

There are no limits on the number of available permits.

Eligibility

You must:

• have a standard international operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international operator licence for Northern Ireland
• use specialised equipment and staff for removal operations

What you need ECMT permits for

You need an ECMT permit to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through the EU (except Cyprus), Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to these 13 countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Apply for permits

Apply for a permit at least 5 working days before you start your removal journey from the UK.

To apply, you need:

• your username and password to manage your vehicle operator licence
• a debit or credit card to pay the application fee

When you sign in, select the Permits tab to apply.

Start your application now.

Fees

Each permit costs £18 and lasts for one year.

You can only use a permit for one vehicle at a time.

Rules for using the permits

You must only use the permit for moving and removing household goods and business possessions.

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey. This includes an unladen journey before or after a laden one.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return your permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

‘Own account’ is where either:

• your vehicle is only carrying goods in connection with your own business
• your delivery contents are not for hire or reward

Own account journeys in the EU

You do not need a UK Licence for the Community for own account journeys between the United Kingdom and the European Union if the following conditions apply:

• the goods you’re carrying are your property, or have been sold, bought, let out on hire or hired, produced, extracted, processed or repaired by you
• the journey’s purpose is to carry the goods to or from your premises or to move them for your own requirements
• you employ the drivers, or they’re put at your disposal for your own requirements
• you either own the vehicles carrying the goods, have bought them on deferred terms, or have hired them
• transporting the goods is only to support your main business activity - transporting goods cannot be your main business activity

Own-account operators who are carrying goods for a commercial purpose will still be subject to cabotage and cross-trade rules when operating in the EU.

Extra documents for Cyprus or Hungary

For own account journeys between the UK and Cyprus or Hungary, you must carry documents in the vehicle that show:

• the name and address of the operator
• the operator’s trade or business
• the nature of the goods being carried
• loading and unloading points
• registration number of the vehicle being used
• the route the haulage takes

You may be asked to provide evidence of the ownership of the goods.

Own account journeys in non-EU countries

You must have a bilateral international road haulage permit for own account journeys to some non-EU countries the UK has agreements with - check which non-EU countries you need the permit for.

As a United Kingdom operator, before your drivers transport goods between two points in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for commercial purposes, you must declare the details on an EU portal.

Declaring the details is known as making a posting declaration.

There are no fees to make a posting declaration.

Types of journeys you must declare

You must declare:

• cabotage jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them at another point in the same country using a UK-registered vehicle)
• cross-trade jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them in another of these countries using a UK-registered vehicle)
• moving goods for your own business’ use inside these countries, including if your business is not mainly about moving goods

Find out how many cabotage and cross-trade jobs you’re allowed to do.

You must make a declaration when you use any of these vehicles to transport the goods:

• heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
• HGVs towing trailers
• vans of any size or other light goods vehicles (sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

Journeys inside Ireland

You need to declare journeys inside Ireland if they’re covered by the rules. This includes if you’re a Northern Ireland vehicle operator.

What you do not need to declare

You do not need to declare when your drivers are using an empty vehicle.

You also do not need to declare when your driver is transporting goods:

• from the UK to one place in Europe, where you can both unload and load goods
• from the UK to Europe, and you unload goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot load goods in Europe)
• from Europe to the UK, and you load goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot unload goods in Europe)
• from the UK to a non-European country (but you cannot load or unload the goods while you’re in Europe)

Create an account on the EU portal

You need to create an account for your company on the EU portal before you can declare a journey.

When you’ve created your company account, you can invite other people from your company to have access.

To create an account, you need information about your:

• company
• transport manager
• drivers

Company information

To create your account, you need your company’s:

• name
• address
• country of registration
• email address
• VAT number
• registration number
• UK Licence for the Community number

Transport manager information

To create your account, you need your transport manager’s:

• name
• office address
• email address
• telephone number
• CPC certificate number

Driver information

To create your account, you need this information for each of your drivers who drive in Europe:

• full name
• date of birth
• email address
• home address
• driving licence number
• driver card number
• internal reference number (for example, their employee number)
• ID document (for example, a passport) - you’ll need the document number, the issue date, the expiry date, and which country issued it
• start date of the drivers’ employment contract with you
• applicable law (which country’s law they’re employed under)

If you have lots of drivers, you can upload their details in a spreadsheet. When you’ve signed in, select the Driver menu, and then Upload driver(s). You can then download a spreadsheet template to use and upload.

If you get an ‘Access Denied’ error message

You might get an ‘Access Denied’ error message at times. This can happen if you:

• select ‘Go to my account’ but have not registered on the portal - you need to create a company account or be invited to join one
• were in the process of creating a new company account - select ‘Reload application’ and then ‘Create account’ - the company creation process will then resume
• have been invited by email and signed in with an EU login account - you need to restart the invitation process from the link you were sent in the invitation email - the registration process will then resume

Declare your journeys (make a posting declaration)

You must make a separate posting declaration for each country each driver will transport goods in.

You can choose to either:

• make a posting declaration for each individual journey a driver makes in each country
• make a posting declaration of up to 6 months for a driver to cover all journeys they’ll make in each country during that time

When you’ve made a posting declaration for one country, you can copy that declaration and change the country (if all the other information is the same).

You need:

• the start and end dates of the posting (this can be up to 6 months long)
• the type of operation - you can select cabotage, international carriage (cross-trade) or both (select both if there’s a chance of short notice cabotage jobs - it does not matter if you actually do not end up doing any)
• the vehicle registration (number plates) of the vehicles you’re using (you can add more than one if your driver will be driving multiple vehicles)
• contact details for your transport manager or another contact person in the UK (so European countries can ask for further documents)

You will get penalties if you do not make a declaration.

Start now

Documents your driver needs to carry

Your driver must carry a digital or physical copy of the information you declare for the journey.

Your driver will get penalties from the enforcement authorities in the European countries they’re stopped in if they do not have a copy.

Your driver also still needs all of the usual:

• vehicle and trailer documents
• driver documents - including tachograph records
• export documents - including an electronic consignment note (e-CMR) or a paper CMR

Respond to requests from other countries for copies of documents

Enforcement authorities in EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway can ask you (as the operator) for:

• copies of the documents that drivers have to carry
• documents about the driver’s pay during the journey, their employment contract and timesheets for their work

You must upload the information you’re asked to the EU portal within 8 weeks of being asked for it.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain or the Transport Regulation Unit in Northern Ireland will be able to take action against you if you do not upload the information.

More information

Check the EU postings portal help section for more information.

Since 21 May 2022, anyone operating a light goods vehicle and/or trailer between 2.5 and 3.5 tons in a European Union member state is required to have a goods vehicle operator’s licence.

This only applies to anyone operating a light goods vehicle for hire or reward. This means that goods, not owned by the operator, are being transported for payment.

The new rules will also apply to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The Department for Infrastructure is working to change the law to enable goods vehicle licences to be issued to anyone affected by these new rules.

What to do if you think you may be affected

Check that your business comes within the scope of the changes.

You will only be in-scope if you carry goods for other people in another EU member state (including the Republic of Ireland); and use vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tons maximum gross vehicle weight which are:

• vans or other light goods vehicles (LGVs; sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

If you are in-scope, you will need to either:

• add the relevant LGVs to your goods vehicle operator licence (if you already have one)
• get a goods vehicle operator licence for the first time

What to do if you need a new operator’s licence

There are a number of requirements which you must meet before you can apply for a goods vehicle operator’s licence.  You must be prepared to agree to a number of undertakings to make arrangements for proper loading of vehicles, maintenance of records, etc.  

Professional Competence

You’ll need to prove that either you or your company have sufficient professional competence to run your operations safely and efficiently, particularly as regards:

• planning routes and scheduling delivery times
• managing your team of drivers and administration staff
• making sure drivers follow company and industry regulations
• arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments
• organising vehicle replacements

Professional competence is assessed by means of a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).  You may already have this qualification. 

If not, you’ll be able to either:

• use an existing member of staff (including yourself) who is not qualified as a transport manager, but has managed fleets of vehicles for at least 10 years before 20 August 2020
• employ someone with a transport manager qualification -called a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
• hire in an external qualified transport manager

Option 1: use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC – the ‘Acquired Rights’ scheme

If you decide to use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC, they will need to prove they have at least 10 years of experience managing fleets of vehicles before 20 August 2020.

They’ll be able to apply to have their experience recognised as ‘acquired rights’ to be a transport manager.  This means that they’ll be treated as having the Transport Manager CPC for a period of time.

The government has proposed they will have acquired rights until 20 May 2025, but this could change. During this time, they’ll need to pass a Transport Manager CPC exam.

After they’ve qualified, they’ll need to keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies. They can take transport manager refresher courses to help them do this.

Option 2: employ someone with a transport manager qualification

You can employ someone with a Transport Manager CPC qualification.

You need to make sure they keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies.

Option 3: hire in an external transport manager

You can ‘hire in’ an external transport manager.  They’re not someone on your payroll, but they have a contract with you to act as your transport manager. You must:

• have a contract with them that sets out the tasks they’ll perform as your transport manager
• make sure they only work for a maximum of 4 vehicle operators (including you), managing no more than 50 vehicles in total across all the operators

More information is available in the Driver Vehicle Agency's safe operator's guide.

Finance that you must have available

By law, you need to prove that you have access to a set amount of finance to run your business. The amount you need depends on how many vehicles you have.

You must have £1,600 available for the first vehicle in your fleet. You need an extra £800 per additional vehicle in your fleet.

Example

You have a fleet of 5 vans.

You need to have £1,600 for the first van.

You then need £800 each for the remaining 4 vans (£800 × 4 = £3,200).

You need to prove you have access to funds of at least £4,800 (£1,600 + £3,200).

If you are running a mixed fleet of HGVs and LGVs the calculation will take account of the LGV rate. 

Establishment in Northern Ireland

If you’re applying for a goods vehicle operator’s licence for LGVs only, you don’t have to meet the same requirements for an operating centre as would be necessary for HGVs. 

You will need to provide an address within the UK where the original records of the business will be kept.  You may have to provide access to these records from time to time. The records may be maintained electronically. 

If you already have a goods vehicle operator’s licence, then you will need to apply for a variation to that licence for any in-scope LGVs you wish to operate in the EU (including the Republic of Ireland).

Cost of a licence

There are fees for operators licences and variations to those licences. If you apply for a new licence, or a make a publishable change to an existing licence, you must pay a one-off £254 application fee.

If your licence application is successful, you will then have to pay a licensing fee of £449 which covers a period of five years. A fee of £449 is also payable at the end of the five year period if you wish to continue your existing licence.

A standard international licence means you can carry your own goods, and other people’s goods, both in the United Kingdom and on international journeys.

After you get a standard international licence, you can also request the issue of a UK Licence for the Community. A UK Licence for the Community allows:

• trips between all European Union member countries
• transit traffic through EU member countries
• cabotage (a journey entirely within one EU country)

How to apply for a standard international licence

You can apply online on the nidirect website.

You can also find out more about licence fees, the standards of fitness and finances required, and how to make changes or renew a licence.

You need an UK Licence for the Community if you make journeys for hire or reward within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

It’s a single permit that covers trips between these countries. It also allows transit traffic through these countries to and from non-EU countries - but you need extra permits for the non-EU countries.

The UK Licence for the Community also allows you to carry out a limited number of haulage jobs inside an EU country (called ‘cabotage’) or between two EU countries (called ‘cross-trade’).

There are no limits on the number of available licences.

Eligibility

You must have a standard international vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland to apply for a UK Licence for the Community.

Where you can use the licences

You can use UK Licences for the Community in the 27 EU countries and three other countries:

Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Republic of Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.

Apply for licences

Call DVSA get a licence. You need your vehicle operator licence number.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

UK Licences for the Community are valid until the 5-yearly renewal date of your operator’s licence.

Fees

There’s no fee for UK Licences for the Community if you have a standard international vehicle operator licence.

Rules for using the licences

You can only use licences that have been issued to you. You cannot transfer them to another operator or company.

The licence includes:

• an office copy - you must keep this at your main office so that it can be inspected by enforcement agencies
• certified copies - you can get a certified copy for each of the vehicles authorised by your standard international vehicle operator licence

Certified copies of the licences are not specific to any one vehicle.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry a certified copy of your UK Licence for the Community in your vehicle when transporting goods in or through EU countries.

You must also carry a certified copy if you’re transporting goods using another type of permit.

The driver must show it to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen licences

You must tell DVSA if your documents are lost, damaged or stolen.

DVSA customer service centre
Tel: 0300 123 9000
Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return the office copy and certified copies to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for permits for nine non-EU countries that the United Kingdom has agreements with to transport goods to or through those countries. These countries are: 

Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Each country has single-journey permits. Whether or not you need a permit depends on:

• the size of the vehicle
• the nature of the goods being carried

Special permits for Morocco

There are also two extra types of permits for Morocco to:

• enter Morocco with an empty vehicle
• take in filming equipment and material for film or TV products, or equipment for exhibitions (including racing)

Types of permits for Azerbaijan

Depending on the type of journey you are carrying out, you will need to use one of 2 different types of permit for Azerbaijan.

Bilateral or transit journey permits

These permits let you complete either a:

• bilateral journey between the UK and Azerbaijan
• transit journey across Azerbaijan to a third country - additional permits may be required for travel to the third country

Azerbaijan or third country permits

These permits let you complete a journey between a third country and Azerbaijan. Additional permits may be required for travel to the third country.

Eligibility

You must have the right type of vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland for the goods you’re transporting to apply for a permit.

Where you can use the permits

You can use the permits to travel to or through:

• Azerbaijan
• Belarus
• Georgia
• Kazakhstan
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey (you only need a permit when you’re continuing on to another third-country)
• Ukraine (you only need a permit if you have a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle)

You also need a permit for ‘own account’ journeys to:

• Belarus
• Morocco
• Russia
• Tunisia
• Turkey

Single-journey permits are valid for one complete journey. The outward and return trips count as one complete journey.

Multiple-journey permits are available for Morocco which authorises 15 return trips during the validity of the permit.

Apply for permits

Download and fill in the application form.

Send it to DVSA at least 5 working days before you start your journey from the UK.

Include a cheque or postal order to pay the fee. If you want to pay by debit or credit card, DVSA will contact you to take the payment when your application arrives.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Apply for road haulage permits for some non-EU countries
(ODT, 45KB).

Fees

Rules for using the permits

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

You must return all special entry permits for Morocco within 15 days of them expiring - whether you’ve used them or not.

What to do when you make journeys

You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey.

You need to show the permit at the border, and you’ll be allowed to pass into or through that country.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return unused permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

Get help with bilateral international road haulage permits

Contact the DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office to get help with bilateral permits.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office

irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm

Last updated: 4 December 2025

European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) permits allow you to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through ECMT member countries.

You need to follow rules about using your ECMT permits, including your drivers carrying the right documents.

Check if you need ECMT permits

You can use ECMT international road haulage permits for journeys between 43 ECMT member countries:

Albania, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.

A limited number of ECMT permits are available. However, you can usually make journeys to 42 of these 43 countries without an ECMT permit.

EU countries, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland

You only need your UK Licence for the Community if your journey is between the UK and an EU country, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.

You do not need an ECMT permit.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU

You can use your UK Licence for the Community to carry out two cross-trade jobs (moving goods between two countries) in the EU.

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a third cross-trade job. The ECMT permit will let you carry out three cross-trade jobs between any ECMT country.

Cross-trade jobs between EU and non-EU countries

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job between the EU and a non-EU country. The non-EU country must be an ECMT member country.

Cross-trade jobs in the EU following an unladen journey from the UK

You need an ECMT permit if you want to carry out a cross-trade job within the EU after an unladen journey from the UK.

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine

You do not usually need any permits to transport goods to, through or from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey and Ukraine.

However, you need to get a bilateral road haulage permit if you’re travelling:

• through Turkey to another country
• in Ukraine using a Euro III or Euro IV vehicle

Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia

You can get bilateral road haulage permits instead of ECMT permits if your journey involves Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Morocco, Russia or Tunisia.

Unlike ECMT permits, many more of these permits are available.

Armenia

You must have an ECMT permit to transport goods to, through or from Armenia.

If your journey also includes any other ECMT countries, you should:

• use your ECMT permit for the journey
• not apply for separate bilateral permits - you cannot use a bilateral road haulage permit at the same time as an ECMT permit

What you cannot use ECMT permits for

You cannot use ECMT permits:

• to travel through ECMT countries to countries that are not in the scheme
• for cabotage (loading and unloading goods for hire or reward between two points in a country by a vehicle that’s not registered in that country)

Eligibility

To apply for an ECMT permit, you must:

• have a vehicle operator licence for Great Britain or a vehicle operator licence for Northern Ireland
• have Euro VI or Euro V emissions standard vehicles (depending on the type of permit you’re applying for)

Apply for permits

Rules for using the permits

You must carry your UK Licence for the Community during any journeys to or through EU countries when you’re using an ECMT permit.

You can use an ECMT permit to make an unlimited number of journeys within:

• a calendar year, if you have an annual permit
• 30 days of the start date on the permit, if you have a short-term permit

You have to return to the UK after every third journey.

You can only use your original permit. You cannot:

• make copies of it
• transfer it to other vehicle operators or businesses
• use it in more than one vehicle at a time

Do not laminate the permit, as it may be stamped at checkpoints.

Example

If you have 10 ECMT permits, you can have a maximum of 10 vehicles making journeys to or through ECMT countries at once.

When a vehicle returns to the UK, you can use the same permit to make another journey during the period it is valid for, or you can move the permit to another vehicle on your operator licences. That vehicle can then make journeys to or through ECMT countries.

If you have more than one vehicle operator licence

You can use an ECMT permit for a vehicle assigned to any of your operator licences. It’s not allocated to a specific operator licence.

You’re not allowed to transfer a permit to another business entity, for example, a sister company.

Rules for the vehicles and trailers

You cannot use ECMT permits you’re allocated:

• for unaccompanied trailers or semi-trailers
• with vehicles of a lower Euro emissions class to that shown on the permit (for example, you cannot use a Euro VI permit in a Euro V vehicle, but you can use a Euro V permit in a Euro VI vehicle)

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ in your vehicle and trailer. They must confirm the vehicle meets the correct Euro emissions standard and the trailer meets the technical safety requirements.

If your permit application is successful, request a certificate from your vehicle or trailer manufacturer, or email DVSA for advice.

Get an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for vehicles and trailers

You must carry an ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for your vehicle and trailer.

If your permit application is successful and you do not already have a certificate, apply online to get one.

Apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness.

Before you start

To apply for an ECMT certificate of roadworthiness, you need:

• your username and password if you’ve used the service to manage your vehicle operator licence before (you can register in the service if you’ve not used it before)
• the vehicle registration number (number plate)
• the trailer registration number or ID number from DVLA (if you’re applying for a trailer)
• the vehicle or trailer type and make
• the certificate of compliance number (leave this blank if you do not have the number)
• vehicle identification number (VIN)
• engine type and number

Meet the ECMT Quality Charter

You must meet the ECMT Quality Charter requirements.

If you have a standard international operator licence

You already meet the requirements of the charter if you have a standard international operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence

If you have a restricted or standard national operator licence you need to:

• have a transport manager
• give proof you have the higher levels of financial standing needed for a standard international licence

You can also apply for a standard international licence to show you meet the ECMT Quality Charter.

Fill in the ECMT log book before a journey

Each ECMT permit comes with a log book.

Before you start a journey, fill in the permit’s log book (in pen, not pencil) with a full record of all the journey’s details.

If you make a mistake, cross it out. Make sure the mistake is still readable, as it may need to be checked.

What drivers need to carry during journeys

The driver will need to carry these documents for all of the outward and return journey:

• the ECMT permit
• the ECMT permit log book (plus the issued translation sheets)
• the ECMT certificate of compliance for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)
• a certificate of roadworthiness for the vehicle and trailer (plus the issued translation sheets)

The driver must show the documents at checkpoints when asked.

Find out how different countries carry out checks.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Send journey records to DVSA

If you have an annual ECMT permit, you must send the original (top sheet) for each completed page of the ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of your return to the UK.

You must send the complete ECMT log book to DVSA within 2 weeks of the permit’s expiry date.

International Road Haulage Permits Office
DVSA
Quarry House
Quarry Hill
Leeds
LS2 7UE

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

You should also tell the police if a permit is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Telephone: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

Send your ECMT permits and log books to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

You can apply for a permit for laden or empty journeys if you’re a specialist removal company and you move household goods and business possessions between or across European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT) countries.

There are no limits on the number of available permits.

Eligibility

You must:

• have a standard international operator licence for Great Britain or a standard international operator licence for Northern Ireland
• use specialised equipment and staff for removal operations

What you need ECMT permits for

You need an ECMT permit to transport most types of goods (or drive an empty vehicle) through the EU (except Cyprus), Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland to these 13 countries:

Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, North Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.

Apply for permits

Apply for a permit at least 5 working days before you start your removal journey from the UK.

To apply, you need:

• your username and password to manage your vehicle operator licence
• a debit or credit card to pay the application fee

When you sign in, select the Permits tab to apply.

Start your application now.

Fees

Each permit costs £18 and lasts for one year.

You can only use a permit for one vehicle at a time.

Rules for using the permits

You must only use the permit for moving and removing household goods and business possessions.

You can only use the permit in one vehicle at a time.

What to do when you make journeys
You must carry the permit in your vehicle for the whole of the outward and return journey. This includes an unladen journey before or after a laden one.

You must show the permit to any enforcement officer when asked to.

Check what other vehicle documents and driver documents the driver needs to carry on international journeys.

Lost, damaged or stolen permits

Contact DVSA straight away if you lose or damage a permit, or if one is stolen.

DVSA International Road Haulage Permits Office
irhp@dvsa.gov.uk
Tel: 020 4591 1123
Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm

If you give up your operator licence

You need to return your permits to DVSA if you apply to give up (‘surrender’) your vehicle operator licence.

‘Own account’ is where either:

• your vehicle is only carrying goods in connection with your own business
• your delivery contents are not for hire or reward

Own account journeys in the EU

You do not need a UK Licence for the Community for own account journeys between the United Kingdom and the European Union if the following conditions apply:

• the goods you’re carrying are your property, or have been sold, bought, let out on hire or hired, produced, extracted, processed or repaired by you
• the journey’s purpose is to carry the goods to or from your premises or to move them for your own requirements
• you employ the drivers, or they’re put at your disposal for your own requirements
• you either own the vehicles carrying the goods, have bought them on deferred terms, or have hired them
• transporting the goods is only to support your main business activity - transporting goods cannot be your main business activity

Own-account operators who are carrying goods for a commercial purpose will still be subject to cabotage and cross-trade rules when operating in the EU.

Extra documents for Cyprus or Hungary

For own account journeys between the UK and Cyprus or Hungary, you must carry documents in the vehicle that show:

• the name and address of the operator
• the operator’s trade or business
• the nature of the goods being carried
• loading and unloading points
• registration number of the vehicle being used
• the route the haulage takes

You may be asked to provide evidence of the ownership of the goods.

Own account journeys in non-EU countries

You must have a bilateral international road haulage permit for own account journeys to some non-EU countries the UK has agreements with - check which non-EU countries you need the permit for.

As a United Kingdom operator, before your drivers transport goods between two points in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for commercial purposes, you must declare the details on an EU portal.

Declaring the details is known as making a posting declaration.

There are no fees to make a posting declaration.

Types of journeys you must declare

You must declare:

• cabotage jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them at another point in the same country using a UK-registered vehicle)
• cross-trade jobs (loading goods in one of these countries and unloading them in another of these countries using a UK-registered vehicle)
• moving goods for your own business’ use inside these countries, including if your business is not mainly about moving goods

Find out how many cabotage and cross-trade jobs you’re allowed to do.

You must make a declaration when you use any of these vehicles to transport the goods:

• heavy goods vehicles (HGVs)
• HGVs towing trailers
• vans of any size or other light goods vehicles (sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

Journeys inside Ireland

You need to declare journeys inside Ireland if they’re covered by the rules. This includes if you’re a Northern Ireland vehicle operator.

What you do not need to declare

You do not need to declare when your drivers are using an empty vehicle.

You also do not need to declare when your driver is transporting goods:

• from the UK to one place in Europe, where you can both unload and load goods
• from the UK to Europe, and you unload goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot load goods in Europe)
• from Europe to the UK, and you load goods at more than one place in Europe (but you cannot unload goods in Europe)
• from the UK to a non-European country (but you cannot load or unload the goods while you’re in Europe)

Create an account on the EU portal

You need to create an account for your company on the EU portal before you can declare a journey.

When you’ve created your company account, you can invite other people from your company to have access.

To create an account, you need information about your:

• company
• transport manager
• drivers

Company information

To create your account, you need your company’s:

• name
• address
• country of registration
• email address
• VAT number
• registration number
• UK Licence for the Community number

Transport manager information

To create your account, you need your transport manager’s:

• name
• office address
• email address
• telephone number
• CPC certificate number

Driver information

To create your account, you need this information for each of your drivers who drive in Europe:

• full name
• date of birth
• email address
• home address
• driving licence number
• driver card number
• internal reference number (for example, their employee number)
• ID document (for example, a passport) - you’ll need the document number, the issue date, the expiry date, and which country issued it
• start date of the drivers’ employment contract with you
• applicable law (which country’s law they’re employed under)

If you have lots of drivers, you can upload their details in a spreadsheet. When you’ve signed in, select the Driver menu, and then Upload driver(s). You can then download a spreadsheet template to use and upload.

If you get an ‘Access Denied’ error message

You might get an ‘Access Denied’ error message at times. This can happen if you:

• select ‘Go to my account’ but have not registered on the portal - you need to create a company account or be invited to join one
• were in the process of creating a new company account - select ‘Reload application’ and then ‘Create account’ - the company creation process will then resume
• have been invited by email and signed in with an EU login account - you need to restart the invitation process from the link you were sent in the invitation email - the registration process will then resume

Declare your journeys (make a posting declaration)

You must make a separate posting declaration for each country each driver will transport goods in.

You can choose to either:

• make a posting declaration for each individual journey a driver makes in each country
• make a posting declaration of up to 6 months for a driver to cover all journeys they’ll make in each country during that time

When you’ve made a posting declaration for one country, you can copy that declaration and change the country (if all the other information is the same).

You need:

• the start and end dates of the posting (this can be up to 6 months long)
• the type of operation - you can select cabotage, international carriage (cross-trade) or both (select both if there’s a chance of short notice cabotage jobs - it does not matter if you actually do not end up doing any)
• the vehicle registration (number plates) of the vehicles you’re using (you can add more than one if your driver will be driving multiple vehicles)
• contact details for your transport manager or another contact person in the UK (so European countries can ask for further documents)

You will get penalties if you do not make a declaration.

Start now

Documents your driver needs to carry

Your driver must carry a digital or physical copy of the information you declare for the journey.

Your driver will get penalties from the enforcement authorities in the European countries they’re stopped in if they do not have a copy.

Your driver also still needs all of the usual:

• vehicle and trailer documents
• driver documents - including tachograph records
• export documents - including an electronic consignment note (e-CMR) or a paper CMR

Respond to requests from other countries for copies of documents

Enforcement authorities in EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway can ask you (as the operator) for:

• copies of the documents that drivers have to carry
• documents about the driver’s pay during the journey, their employment contract and timesheets for their work

You must upload the information you’re asked to the EU portal within 8 weeks of being asked for it.

The Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain or the Transport Regulation Unit in Northern Ireland will be able to take action against you if you do not upload the information.

More information

Check the EU postings portal help section for more information.

Since 21 May 2022, anyone operating a light goods vehicle and/or trailer between 2.5 and 3.5 tons in a European Union member state is required to have a goods vehicle operator’s licence.

This only applies to anyone operating a light goods vehicle for hire or reward. This means that goods, not owned by the operator, are being transported for payment.

The new rules will also apply to Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The Department for Infrastructure is working to change the law to enable goods vehicle licences to be issued to anyone affected by these new rules.

What to do if you think you may be affected

Check that your business comes within the scope of the changes.

You will only be in-scope if you carry goods for other people in another EU member state (including the Republic of Ireland); and use vehicles between 2.5 and 3.5 tons maximum gross vehicle weight which are:

• vans or other light goods vehicles (LGVs; sometimes called ‘light commercial vehicles’)
• vans towing trailers
• cars towing trailers

If you are in-scope, you will need to either:

• add the relevant LGVs to your goods vehicle operator licence (if you already have one)
• get a goods vehicle operator licence for the first time

What to do if you need a new operator’s licence

There are a number of requirements which you must meet before you can apply for a goods vehicle operator’s licence.  You must be prepared to agree to a number of undertakings to make arrangements for proper loading of vehicles, maintenance of records, etc.  

Professional Competence

You’ll need to prove that either you or your company have sufficient professional competence to run your operations safely and efficiently, particularly as regards:

• planning routes and scheduling delivery times
• managing your team of drivers and administration staff
• making sure drivers follow company and industry regulations
• arranging vehicle maintenance, MOTs and tax payments
• organising vehicle replacements

Professional competence is assessed by means of a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC).  You may already have this qualification. 

If not, you’ll be able to either:

• use an existing member of staff (including yourself) who is not qualified as a transport manager, but has managed fleets of vehicles for at least 10 years before 20 August 2020
• employ someone with a transport manager qualification -called a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
• hire in an external qualified transport manager

Option 1: use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC – the ‘Acquired Rights’ scheme

If you decide to use someone who does not have a Transport Manager CPC, they will need to prove they have at least 10 years of experience managing fleets of vehicles before 20 August 2020.

They’ll be able to apply to have their experience recognised as ‘acquired rights’ to be a transport manager.  This means that they’ll be treated as having the Transport Manager CPC for a period of time.

The government has proposed they will have acquired rights until 20 May 2025, but this could change. During this time, they’ll need to pass a Transport Manager CPC exam.

After they’ve qualified, they’ll need to keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies. They can take transport manager refresher courses to help them do this.

Option 2: employ someone with a transport manager qualification

You can employ someone with a Transport Manager CPC qualification.

You need to make sure they keep up a high-quality professional knowledge of transport industry rules and policies.

Option 3: hire in an external transport manager

You can ‘hire in’ an external transport manager.  They’re not someone on your payroll, but they have a contract with you to act as your transport manager. You must:

• have a contract with them that sets out the tasks they’ll perform as your transport manager
• make sure they only work for a maximum of 4 vehicle operators (including you), managing no more than 50 vehicles in total across all the operators

More information is available in the Driver Vehicle Agency's safe operator's guide.

Finance that you must have available

By law, you need to prove that you have access to a set amount of finance to run your business. The amount you need depends on how many vehicles you have.

You must have £1,600 available for the first vehicle in your fleet. You need an extra £800 per additional vehicle in your fleet.

Example

You have a fleet of 5 vans.

You need to have £1,600 for the first van.

You then need £800 each for the remaining 4 vans (£800 × 4 = £3,200).

You need to prove you have access to funds of at least £4,800 (£1,600 + £3,200).

If you are running a mixed fleet of HGVs and LGVs the calculation will take account of the LGV rate. 

Establishment in Northern Ireland

If you’re applying for a goods vehicle operator’s licence for LGVs only, you don’t have to meet the same requirements for an operating centre as would be necessary for HGVs. 

You will need to provide an address within the UK where the original records of the business will be kept.  You may have to provide access to these records from time to time. The records may be maintained electronically. 

If you already have a goods vehicle operator’s licence, then you will need to apply for a variation to that licence for any in-scope LGVs you wish to operate in the EU (including the Republic of Ireland).

Cost of a licence

There are fees for operators licences and variations to those licences. If you apply for a new licence, or a make a publishable change to an existing licence, you must pay a one-off £254 application fee.

If your licence application is successful, you will then have to pay a licensing fee of £449 which covers a period of five years. A fee of £449 is also payable at the end of the five year period if you wish to continue your existing licence.