The latest Brexit changes will see more red tape for UK drivers and further checks at UK ports, with UK van drivers needing new operating licences to enter the EU from May 2022.
Companies’ operating vans to deliver their own goods, or on behalf of other companies, will need to get a new international operator’s license if they want to travel between the UK and the EU from May next year.
The changes affect anyone driving a van, a light commercial vehicle or any car towing a trailer. From 21 May 2022, you’ll need a standard international goods vehicle operator licence to transport goods in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The goods vehicle operator licence costs £257 (€300) to apply for a goods vehicle operator licence. If your application is successful, you need to pay a further £401 (€470) for the licence and the same amount every 5 years to keep your licence active.
Access to funds, by law, you will 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 need £1,600 (€1,900) available for the first vehicle in your fleet and an extra £800 (€930) for each additional vehicle in your fleet. If you have 5 vans, you will need to have £1,600 (€1,900) for the first van and £800 (€930) each for the remaining 4 vans. A total of £4,800 (€5,650)
The new rules apply using vans, cars and trailers over 2.5 tonnes used to transport goods in and out of the UK from 21 May 2022. If you already operate HGV’s, you will be able to add your vehicles to your operator licence at a later date.
Apart from the international operator’s license, you will also need a dedicated transport manager. This can be 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.
Alternatively, you can employ someone with a transport manager qualification (called a Transport Manager Certificate of Professional Competence – or ‘CPC’) or hire an external qualified transport manager.
From 1 January 2022, some other UK rules will affect all sizes of EU exporters who will need to register for a goods vehicle movement service (GVMS). Full customs controls will apply from that date for all goods moving in either direction between the EU and Great Britain.
Hauliers will not be allowed to board the ferry or shuttle if they do not have the correct paperwork.
