Guidance: Apply for a van or other light goods vehicle operator licence

Published: 01 March 2024
By Chris Haycock

You need a standard international goods vehicle operator licence to use your vans or car and trailers over 2.5 tonnes to transport goods for hire or reward in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

Find out more about transporting goods in Europe in vans or car and trailers

When you apply you need:

• the vehicle registration (number plate) and gross plated weight of each vehicle you want to be on your licence
• to upload documents showing you have enough money to keep your vehicles and run your business
• proof that your transport manager has the Transport Manager CPC qualification or has been temporarily recognised as a transport manager

Unlike an application for a licence to use heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), you will not need:

• an operating centre
• to advertise your application in a local newspaper

When you apply, you need to upload documents 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).

The proof can include:

• bank statements
• building society accounts
• credit card accounts
• an opening balance (if you’re a new business)
• overdraft facilities
• invoice finance agreements
• audited accounts

If you upload bank statements, they must:

• be in the name of the person or organisation applying for the licence
• cover the 28-day period immediately before the date you apply
• show itemised transactions as well as the opening and closing balance

You must be able to explain any large or unusual deposits to the account during the 28-day period.

You’ll need either:

• a copy of your transport manager’s CPC qualification certificate (if they have the qualification)
• the reference number for an approved application to be temporarily recognised as a transport manager (if they do not yet have the qualification)

What you need to do depends on when you’ll be making your first journey in Europe.

When you apply for your operator licence, you should also ask for an interim licence.

An interim licence is a temporary licence that can be issued more quickly than your full licence. This means that you will be able to use your interim licence to operate in Europe while your full licence is still being processed if you meet the requirements.

It can take up to 7 weeks to issue your full licence.

Your interim licence will end:

• if you cancel your application for an operator licence
• when your application for a full operator licence has either been granted or refused

You’ll get a refund of the £68 interim licence application fee if either:

• your full licence can be issued instead of giving you an interim licence
• your application for an interim licence is refused

You do not have to ask for an interim licence if you’ll only be making journeys in Europe at least 7 weeks from now. This is because there should enough time to process your application for a full licence. However, you can still choose to do this if you want to.

You need:

• a debit or credit card
• your username and password if you’ve used the service before

You can register in the service if you’ve not used it before.

Start now

You’ll usually get a decision within 7 weeks if you apply online. It can take longer - for example, if you do not provide all requested supporting documents when you apply.

If you live in England, Scotland or Wales, contact the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) to get help.

DVSA customer service centreTelephone: 0300 123 9000Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pmFind out about call charges

Contact the Transport Regulation Unit if you live in Northern Ireland.

Transport Regulation UnitTelephone: 0300 200 7831Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pmFind out about call charges