Run occasional international services

The UK will join the Interbus Agreement on 1 January 2021. This will allow international occasional services to continue.

The Interbus Agreement applies to the EU, Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine.

Your drivers will need to carry the following documents:

• a certified copy of their standard international operator licence
• a copy of the vehicle log book (V5C)
• a top copy of the Interbus waybill – buy this from the Confederation of Passenger Transport

Occasional services on the island of Ireland

You will be able to run occasional services on the island of Ireland which pick up and set down passengers in Ireland.

Your drivers will need to carry the following documents:

• standard international operator licence (or a certified copy)
• a copy of the vehicle log book (V5C)
• a completed journey form – buy this from the Confederation of Passenger Transport

Occasional services to Switzerland

You will be able to run occasional services which run through the EU to reach Switzerland and other non-EU and non-Interbus countries.

You will not be able to transport passengers between 2 points in the EU during the journey.

Your drivers will need to carry the following documents:

• standard international operator licence (or a certified copy)
• a copy of the vehicle log book (V5C)
• a completed journey form – buy this from the Confederation of Passenger Transport

Run regular international services

The Interbus Agreement does not yet cover regular (scheduled) services.

Until the Interbus Agreement is extended, the UK’s agreement with the EU will allow authorised regular (scheduled) services to EU countries.

From 1 January 2021, you will not be able to transport passengers between 2 stops within the EU, except on services operating between Ireland and Northern Ireland.

Your drivers will need to carry the following documents:

• standard international operator licence (or a certified copy)
• a copy of the vehicle log book (V5C)
• their authorisation (or a certified copy)

Get your regular services authorised

All existing regular service authorisations must be replaced before 1 January 2021.

The International Road Haulage Permit Office or the Driver and Vehicle Agency will automatically do this for you. The existing expiry date of your authorisation will not change.

When you need to renew your authorisation

If your authorisation expires:

• up to and including 30 June 2021, it will take up to 4 months to renew your authorisation
• on or after 1 July 2021, it will take up to 6 months to renew your authorisation

Take this into account when you apply to renew your authorisations.

Contact the International Road Haulage Permit Office or the Driver and Vehicle Agency to apply for a new authorisation or to renew an existing authorisation.

Run special regular international services

A special regular service means a regular service which only carries specified types of passengers, and does not carry any other types of passengers. For example, a special regular service could take workers between home and work, or take pupils and students to and from their school or college.

The Interbus Agreement does not yet cover special regular services.

Until the Interbus Agreement is extended, the UK’s agreement with the EU will allow special regular services to EU countries to continue.

Get your special regular services authorised from 1 July 2021

All special regular services need to be authorised from 1 July 2021. It can take up to 6 months to get them authorised.

Contact the International Road Haulage Permit Office or the Driver and Vehicle Agency to apply for authorisation.

What your drivers need to carry during special regular services

Your drivers will need to carry the following documents:

• standard international operator licence (or a certified copy)
• a copy of the vehicle log book (V5C)
• the contract between the organiser and the road passenger transport operator (or a copy)
• a document proving that the passengers are part of a specific category of passengers
• the service authorisation or a certified copy (from 1 July 2021)

Register your vehicle trailers

You must register these types of trailers before you drive to or through most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway:

• commercial trailers weighing over 750kg
• non-commercial trailers weighing over 3,500kg

Register your trailer to take it abroad now.

Vehicle registration documents

Your drivers will need to carry your vehicle registration documents when driving abroad for less than 12 months. This can be either:

• the vehicle log book (V5C), if you have one
• a VE103 to show you’re allowed to use a hired or leased vehicle abroad

Display GB stickers

Display a Great Britain (GB) sticker on the rear of the vehicle and trailer, even if the vehicle has a number plate with the Euro symbol and a GB national identifier.

You do not need to display a GB sticker to drive in Ireland.

Vehicle and trailer insurance

A ‘green card’ is proof of motor insurance cover when driving abroad. Your drivers should plan to carry one for the vehicle they’re driving in the EU (including Ireland), Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Serbia and Andorra from 1 January 2021.

When you need multiple green cards

Your drivers will need to carry multiple green cards if:

• you have fleet insurance – you’ll need a green card for each vehicle
• their vehicle is towing a trailer – they will need one for the towing vehicle and one for the trailer (separate trailer insurance is needed in some countries)
• there are 2 policies covering the duration of the trip, for example, if the policy renews during the journey

Your drivers must carry a physical copy of the green card when driving abroad. Electronic versions of green cards are not acceptable.

Get your green cards

If you need a physical copy of your green cards, you can:

• contact your vehicle insurance provider (do this at least 6 weeks before you travel)
• print green cards your insurance providers electronically sends to you (they do not need to be printed on green paper)

When your drivers will have to show your green cards

Your drivers will need to show green cards if they are involved in an accident.

They may also need to show green cards at police checks and at the border when:

• entering the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein
• moving between the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein

This will depend on the border authorities of each country.

Find out more about vehicle insurance.

What to do if your vehicle is involved in a road accident

If your drivers are involved in a road accident in an EU country they should in the first instance contact your insurance provider.

From 1 January 2021, any legal proceedings against either the responsible driver or the insurance provider of the vehicle will need to be brought in the EU or EEA country where the accident happened. You might have to make your claim in the local language.

You will not get compensation in some countries if the accident is caused by an uninsured driver or if the driver cannot be traced.

Get legal advice if you need more information about this.

What bus and coach drivers need to do

Find out what your drivers need to do to drive professionally in the EU from 1 January 2021.