International Road Haulage in the EU between the 31 October and 31 December 2019

Dear Haulier.

Important information on International Road Haulage in the EU between the 31 October and 31 December 2019

We wrote to you earlier this year, jointly with the FTA and the RHA, to update you on our preparations for leaving the EU.

Since then we have been successful in ensuring that 99% of journeys between the UK and the EU will continue as they are now, and will not need a permit, until at least 31 December 2019. This means that in November and December most UK hauliers will be able to continue to operate as they do now in a no-deal scenario.

The UK will be leaving the EU on 31 October, and while we will work in an energetic and determined way to seek a better deal, that will require movement from the EU and a willingness to reopen the previous Withdrawal Agreement which has been rejected by Parliament three times. If that proves impossible we will have to leave with no deal. We are making all the necessary preparations to ensure we are fully prepared Brexit, whatever the circumstances.

The EU has introduced a law which will ensure commercial road transport will continue in much the same way as present, until at least 31 December 2019. We are engaging with the European Commission and Member States with a view to extending these arrangements beyond December, and we will write to you with any further updates. Until 31 October all arrangements of course remain the same as they are now.

2019 ECMT Permits

Under the new EU law, all point-to-point journeys between the UK and the EU will continue as present, with up to two cross-trade or cabotage trips allowed per week until December 2019.

However, Hauliers who wish to transit the EU to non-EU countries (such as Switzerland or Ukraine) or who require a third cross-trade journey will need an ECMT permit after 31 October 2019, if the UK leaves the EU without a deal.

ECMT permits for use in November and December 2019 will be available to buy from 30 August 2019. 

Find out more about ECMT permits. 

Annual ECMT permits that were previously issued for 2019 can be used for the purpose of transit to non-EU countries in November and December 2019.

Summary of ECMT permits in No Deal – November & December 2019

You do not need an ECMT permit for:

• travel (empty or laden) to any EU or EEA Member State and return
• transit through Switzerland to any EU/EEA Member State
• transit through any EU or EEA Member State to another EU or EEA Member State
• journeys to or from Ireland
• travelling through Ireland on journeys between Northern Ireland and Great Britain
• cabotage (ECMT permits do not allow cabotage)
• cross trade (you can make two onward journeys to other EU countries per week before having to return to the UK)

You will need an ECMT permit for:

• transit through the EU (or EEA) to countries which are not part of the EU or EEA such as Switzerland, Turkey or Ukraine
• if you need to make more than two onward journeys to other EU countries (cross-trade) per week

Important information

• only those operators whose journeys are not covered by the EU law can buy permits
• DVSA may require evidence of journeys to non-EU countries or journeys involving three cross-trade journeys per week
• we will monitor use of ECMT permits - If you purchase permits which are not used you may not be eligible for ECMT permits in the future
• all trips must be recorded on the log book which is issued with the ECMT permit and a copy returned to the DVSA at the end of each calendar month
• ECMT permits are only valid when accompanied by Certificates of Roadworthiness and Compliance, which you will need to obtain separately. Find out more about getting these certificates. 

Find out more about carrying out international road haulage after Brexit and sign up for alerts.