Check which documents you need to carry if you are the driver or a passenger in a lorry or other heavy goods vehicle (HGV) that crosses international borders. You must carry certain driver documentation with you if you drive or travel as a passenger in a commercial vehicle carrying goods between countries. These include:
There is separate guidance about the HGV and trailer documents you need, and the rules about taking food and drink into EU countries for your own use.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) testing
Check the foreign travel advice for any COVID-19 requirements for the countries you are travelling to.
Driving licences and international driving permits
You will need to carry your UK driving licence with you. You must have the right category of licence for the vehicle you are driving.
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 if you have:
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 CPC qualification to drive a lorry professionally in the UK, the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
You must carry your Driver CPC card (sometimes called a ‘driver qualification card’ or ‘DQC’) with you.
If you work for a UK company and have a UK Driver CPC card
You can still use your UK Driver CPC card to drive to or through EU countries for all international journeys that UK companies are allowed to make.
If you work for an EU company and have a UK Driver CPC card
Your UK Driver CPC card may no longer be recognised in EU countries.
Check with the relevant organisation in the country where you live and work to find out what you need to do.
Driver’s hour’s documents and tachographs
If you drive a goods vehicles over 3.5 tonnes on international journeys you must follow the rules on drivers’ hours and tachograph use.
You must have:
You must record annual leave or sick leave by either:
This has replaced using an ‘attestation form’ to record this information. However, we strongly advise carrying a record similar to the attestation form to prove your personal work movements.
Vehicle and trailer insurance and green cards
You must have suitable motor insurance cover when you drive abroad.
In some countries, you will need to carry a ‘green card’ as proof of the insurance cover.
Where you need green cards
You need a green card to drive in:
You do not need a green card to drive in the EU (including Ireland), Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Serbia or Switzerland.
You will need to carry more than one green card if:
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 green cards
Make sure your employer either:
When you will have to show your green cards
You will need to show green cards if you are involved in an accident.
You may need to show green cards at police checks and at the border when:
This will depend on the border authorities of each country.
Find out more about vehicle insurance.
If you’re involved in a road accident
Contact your insurance provider if you are involved in a road accident in the EU.
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 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.
Passport
You must have a valid passport – even if you are a passenger or crew member.
Check the expiry date and the entry rules of the countries on your route.
On the day you travel, you will need your passport to:
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 is 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 is valid for the length of your stay.
Visas
You can work in the EU without a visa if do not spend more than 90 days in the EU within any 180-day period.
Check the ‘entry requirements’ section for the countries you’re planning to visit.
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. If you apply for a card now, you will get a new UK Global
Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC.
GHICs and most UK EHICs will not cover you in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. If you are visiting those countries, make sure you have travel insurance with health cover.
Leave photocopies of all medical, insurance and legal documents as back up with family or friends in case you need copies outside of your company’s normal business hours.
Find out about buying travel insurance with the right cover.
You no longer need a Kent Access Permit (KAP) to enter Kent.
To Check an HGV is ready to cross the border service has closed. However, staff at haulier advice sites can help you check that you have the paperwork you need to cross the border.
