Drivers Guidance
Driving in the EU from 1 January 2021: lorry and goods vehicles drivers
What UK lorry and goods vehicle drivers need to do to drive professionally in the EU from 1 January 2021.
Published 25 February 2020
Last updated 28 December 2020 — see all updates
From:
Department for Transport, Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, and Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
Brexit transition: new rules for 2021
The UK has agreed a deal with the EU. This page tells you the new rules from 1 January 2021.
Use the Brexit checker to get a personalised list of actions and sign up for email updates.
For current information, read:
International road haulage: driver documents
Transport goods out of the UK by road: step by step
Driving abroad
Contents
Driving licences and international driving permits
Driver CPC for lorry drivers
Passports
Visas
Healthcare
Vehicle and trailer insurance
What to do if you’re involved in a road accident
GB stickers and number plates
Check an HGV is ready to cross the border
What to do if you run a haulage company
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Driving licences and international driving permits
You will need to carry your UK driving licence with you.
You do not need an international driving permit (IDP) to drive in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
You might need an IDP to drive in some EU countries and Norway from 1 January 2021 if you have:
a paper driving licence
a licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man
Check with the embassy of the country you will be driving in.
You will not need an IDP to drive in Ireland if you have a UK driving licence.
Driver CPC for lorry drivers
You need a Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) qualification to drive a lorry professionally in the UK, the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
If you work for a UK company and have a UK Driver CPC qualification
You will still need Driver CPC to drive professionally in the UK. You must still complete your Driver CPC periodic training by your deadline.
You do not need to do anything else if you’re a UK driver working for a UK company.
You will still be able to drive to or through EU countries with your UK Driver CPC qualification for all international journeys that UK companies are allowed to make.
If you work for an EU company and have a UK Driver CPC qualification
Exchange your UK Driver CPC qualification for an EU one if you work for an EU company or want to work for one from 1 January 2021.
The way you do this will depend on how the country where you live and work recognises Driver CPC. Some countries:
use a Driver CPC card (like the UK does) – this is sometimes called a ‘driver qualification card or ‘DQC’
add code 95 to the driving licence
Some countries recognise either method.
Countries that use a Driver CPC card
These countries use the Driver CPC card as proof that drivers have the qualification:
Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg (for non-resident drivers only), Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland.
Apply to the relevant organisation in the country where you live and work to exchange your Driver CPC qualification. Check with them how long it takes to make sure you do it in time.
Countries that use code 95 on the driving licence
These countries add code 95 to driving licences as proof that drivers have the qualification:
Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg (for resident drivers only), Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland and Slovenia.
Exchange your UK driving licence for a driving licence in the EU country where you live and work so that your Driver CPC qualification is exchanged. Check with the relevant organisation in the country to find out if you need to take any extra steps. Check with them how long it takes to make sure you do it in time.
If you do not live in the EU country where you work, your employer may be able to get you a driver attestation certificate.
Passports
You may need to renew your British passport earlier if you’re travelling from 1 January 2021.
On the day you travel, you’ll need your passport to both:
have at least 6 months left
be less than 10 years old (even if it has 6 months or more left)
If you do not renew it, you may not be able to travel to most EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
It usually takes 3 weeks if you need to renew your passport. There’s a premium service if you need it sooner.
These rules do not apply to travel to Ireland. You can continue to use your passport as long as it’s valid for the length of your stay.
Visas
You’ll still be able to work in the EU without a visa if do not spend more than 90 days in the EU within any 180-day period.
Travel to Ireland will not change from 1 January 2021. You’ll continue to be able to travel and work there in the same way as before.
Healthcare
You should always get appropriate travel insurance with healthcare cover before you go abroad.
A European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in the EU country.
You can continue to use an EHIC from 1 January 2021. If you apply for a card now, you’ll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC.
From 1 January 2021, GHICs and most UK EHICs will not cover you in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. If you’re visiting those countries, make sure you have travel insurance with health cover.
Find out about buying travel insurance with the right cover.
Vehicle and trailer insurance
A ‘green card’ is proof of motor insurance cover when driving abroad.
You should carry one for the vehicle you’re driving in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland from 1 January 2021.
You will need to carry multiple green cards if:
you have fleet or multi-car insurance – you’ll need a green card for each vehicle
your vehicle is towing a trailer – you’ll need one for the towing vehicle and one for the trailer or caravan (you need separate trailer insurance in some countries)
you have 2 policies covering the duration of your trip, for example, if your policy renews during the journey
You must carry a physical copy of your green card when driving abroad. Electronic versions of green cards are not acceptable.
Make sure your employer has got green cards
Make sure your employer either:
contacts their vehicle insurance provider at least 6 weeks before you travel to get a copy
prints green cards their insurance providers electronically send to them (this does not need to be printed on green paper)
When you will have to show your green cards
You will need to show green cards if you’re involved in an accident.
You may need to show green cards at police checks and at the border when:
you enter the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway
move between the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
This will depend on the border authorities of each country.
Find out more about vehicle insurance.
What to do if you’re involved in a road accident
Contact your insurance provider if you’re involved in a road accident in the EU.
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 country, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway, depending on 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.
GB stickers and number plates
You must display a separate GB sticker when driving in the EU if your number plate has the Euro symbol and Great Britain (GB) national identifier on it.
You will not need to display a separate GB sticker if your number plate either:
includes the letters GB with a Union Flag
includes the letters GB with no flag
You do not need to display a GB sticker to drive in Ireland.
Check an HGV is ready to cross the border
Use the service to check your HGV is ready to cross the border to prove you have the right EU import and commodities documents for the goods it’s carrying before you cross the Great Britain-EU border.
You must use this service for HGVs travelling via the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel to get a ‘Kent Access Permit’ before you enter Kent.
As the driver, you’re responsible for doing the check, but it can be done on your behalf by your manager.
You can be fined £300 if you do not use the service to check an HGV is ready to cross the border when you travel via the Port of Dover or Eurotunnel, or if you provide a fraudulent declaration.
It will be optional to use the service for all other ports in Great Britain.
What to do if you run a haulage company
Find out what you need to do to carry out international road haulage from 1 January 2021.
Published 25 February 2020
Last updated 28 December 2020 – hide all updates
28 December 2020
Updated to confirm that UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC) will still be accepted in EU countries, and there will be different rules for people travelling to Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland from 1 January 2021.
24 December 2020
Updated the information about where you’ll need international driving permits (IDPs), when you’ll need a visa, and the vehicle insurance documents you’ll need.
14 December 2020
Added information about the Check an HGV is ready to cross the border service.
25 February 2020
First published.
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