Guidance on transport goods out of the UK by road if the UK leaves the EU without a deal: checklist for hauliers

Changing documentation

If the UK leaves the EU without a deal, from 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019 haulage drivers will need extra documentation to cross the border between the UK and the EU.

Driver documents

From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal UK haulage drivers will need to carry these documents:

• international driving permit (IDP) – 1949 IDP for Spain, Malta and Cyprus; 1926 IDP for Liechtenstein, 1968 IDP for all other EU countries
• passport – check if your UK passport is valid for travel in the EU

Haulage drivers will continue to need:

• Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC)
• the appropriate goods vehicle operator licence and identity disc
• UK drivers licence
• tachograph charts or driver’s digital smart card

UK drivers with vehicles under 3.5 tonnes (including vans) or drivers operating on own account (carrying their own goods) do not need a standard international operator’s licence or Driver CPC.

Vehicle documents

From 28 March, whatever the EU Exit outcome, all commercial trailers weighing over 750kg and non-commercial trailers weighing over 3,500kg need to be registered with DVLA before travelling abroad. Drivers towing these trailers will need to carry:

• trailer registration plates and papers

From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal, UK haulage drivers will need to carry these vehicle documents:

• motor insurance Green Card
• a GB sticker on the rear of the vehicle

If there is no EU Exit deal, UK hauliers can continue to use their EUCommunity Licence until 31 December 2019. You will not need any extra permits to transport goods in EU countries until 1 January 2020 for:

• journeys to and from the UK – for example, a journey from the UK to Germany, or a journey from Italy to the UK
• driving through EU countries to reach another EU country – for example, driving through France to reach Spain
• limited cabotage or cross-trade – the rules on what you can do will change from the day the UK leaves the EU

You must carry your Community Licence or UK Licence for the Communitydocument in your vehicle when you make these journeys, but you do not need an ECMT permit.

For journeys not listed above, UK haulage drivers may also need:

• ECMT permit
• ECMT ‘certificate of compliance’ for vehicles and trailers
• ECMT ‘certificate of roadworthiness’ for vehicles and trailers

UK haulage drivers transporting goods under the Transports Internationaux Routiers (TIR) scheme will also need:

• Approval Certificate of a Road Vehicle for the Transport of Goods under Customs Seal

UK haulage drivers will continue to need:

• vehicle registration documents when driving abroad for less than 12 months, either a:
  • vehicle log book (V5C)
  • VE103 to show you’re allowed to use your hired or leased vehicle abroad
• paperwork, stickers, payment cards or electronic toll devices to use roads abroad
• vehicle security checklist

Documentation for importing and exporting goods

From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal, customs processes and documentation for importing and exporting goods will change.

EU countries may impose different requirements on their side of the border. Carrying goods that do not complying with EU requirements could result in delays or penalties. You should familiarise yourself with these new processes:

• UK
• France
• Belgium
• Netherlands
• Spain

Customs and transit documents

From 11pm GMT on 29 March 2019, if there is no EU Exit deal, haulage drivers will need to carry different documents depending if they are:

• declaring the import and export of goods
• moving goods under transit or
• moving an empty vehicle or trailer

Declaring import of goods into the UK from the EU (where the destination is the UK)

Traders bringing goods into the UK via a roll-on roll-off routes, must pre-lodge customs declarations with HMRC before goods board the vessel or train in the EU.

Haulage drivers carrying goods into the UK from the EU will need:

• evidence of a customs declaration, either:
  • an Economic Operator Registration and Identification (EORI) number or
  • a Movement Reference Number (MRN)
• commercial invoice – showing information including the value of the goods
• Exit Summary Declarations (EXS) to submit to the EU customs authority from which the goods are leaving – you will need to check with the EUcustoms authority about what documents they require to export goods from the EU to the UK

The UK Border Force will accept either digital or paper versions of the MRNor EORI as proof that customs processes are being followed.

The requirement for entry summary declarations (ENS), also known as safety and security declarations, will be phased in for goods moving from the EU to the UK, giving business more time to prepare for changes. Hauliers will not be required to submit ENS for 6 months after EU Exit.

Declaring export of goods from the UK into the EU

To ensure that goods are being legally exported, hauliers will need to check with the trader that the goods have received “permission to progress” to the port from HMRC before taking them across the border.

You will need to check with the EU customs authority about what documents they require at the EU border.

Goods may be selected for further checks during the crossing and may need to be inspected by customs on arrival in the EU.

Haulage drivers carrying goods into the EU from the UK will need:

• import declaration form - supplied by the trader
• international road consignment note (CMR)
• commercial invoice – showing information including the value of the goods
• certificate of insurance for the goods carried
• export licence if required for the type of goods carried

Moving goods under transit

Importers/exporters or their representative may decide to move goods using ‘transit’ arrangements. This removes the need for separate export and import declarations at each border crossing and reduces the amount of checking at the border. To move goods under transit, importers and exporters will use one or a combination of three systems:

• Common Transit Convention (CTC) or
• Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission (ATA) Carnet or
• TIR

Depending on the system used, haulage drivers must have:

• Transit Accompanying Document (TAD) for moving goods under CTC, which includes the MRN – the TAD is given to the haulier by the Office of Departure or Authorised Consignor when the transit movement starts and/or
• ATA Carnet documentation and/or
• TIR documentation plus an ‘Approval Certificate of a Road Vehicle for the Transport of Goods under Customs Seal’

Haulage drivers will also need:

• certificate of insurance for the goods carried
• export licence if required for the type of load carried
• ENS for safety and security purposes will be required for goods moving from the UK to the EU – for CTC the ENS might be included in the TAD or Transit Security Accompanying Document (TSAD)

Moving an empty vehicle or trailer

Customs documents are not required if a vehicle or trailer is empty. Driver and vehicle documentation are still required.

Transporting excise duty suspended goods from the UK to the EU

Haulage drivers must have a full customs departure message for ‘excise duty suspended goods’ from the UK exporter. This will be the:

• ‘notification of departure of goods’ (for example, alcohol or goods covered by guarantee)
• Excise Movement and Control System (EMCS) Administrative Reference Code for the consignment entered into box 40 of the customs export declaration

Transporting animal, plant, and other controlled products

Transporting live animals, products of animal origin (POAO), plants and plant products, and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin (HRFNAO) may need extra requirements or different transit routes. Haulage drivers should not move these goods until they:

• are sure the importer or exporter has met the extra requirements:
  • Importing animals, animal products and high-risk food and feed not of animal origin after EU Exit
  • Exporting animals, animal products, fish and fishery products to the EUafter EU Exit
  • Importing and exporting plants and plant products if the UK leaves the EU without a deal
  • Trading and moving endangered species protected by CITES if there’s no withdrawal deal
• have confirmed that the chosen port of entry will be able to check the goods:
  • EU Border Inspection Posts (BIP)
  • UK BIP
  • UK Designated Point of Entry (DPE)
  • Place of First Arrival (PoFA) for plant and plant products originating from a third country
  • CITES goods cannot pass though Dover and Eurotunnel

Haulage drivers transporting live animals must have the following documents from the importer or exporter. The EU will no longer accept UK-issued versions of these documents:

• transporter authorisation
• certificate of competence
• vehicle approval certificate
• journey log (where necessary)

Check local traffic conditions and road rules

Before you travel you should check:

• if there are disruptions or delays at the at UK and EU ports and Eurotunnel
• the road rules for European countries
• travel advice for the countries you’re driving through