UK Licence for the Community
Licence needed to make international journeys for hire or reward within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
You need an UK Licence for the Community if you make journeys for hire or reward within the EU, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The UK Licence for the Community has replaced the EU Community Licence.
It鈥檚 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 .
The UK Licence for the Community also allows you to carry out a limited number of .
There are no limits on the number of available licences.
If you had an EU Community Licence before 2021
You should have received your replacement UK Licence for the Community by 31 December 2020 if you had an EU Community Licence.
Destroy your old EU Community Licence
You should destroy your old EU Community Licence.
If your UK Licence for the Community has not arrived
Email the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) if your replacement licence has not arrived. You need to give your operator licence number.
Eligibility
You must have a or a 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 4 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, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
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鈥檚 licence.
Fees
There鈥檚 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鈥檙e transporting goods using another type of permit.
The driver must show it to any enforcement officer when asked to.
Important: It鈥檚 illegal to not carry the certified copy or show it to enforcement officers when asked to.
Check what other and 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 .