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Brexit: New licence needed to bring vans and trailers from UK to Spain

The Local Spain
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Brexit: New licence needed to bring vans and trailers from UK to Spain
If you're using any moving or courier services to transport goods to Spain, expect prices to increase to cover the operator’s costs. (Photo by Adrian DENNIS / AFP)

Another Brexit-related driving change is on the way in 2022, with an extra licence required to bring a van or large car trailer from the UK into an EU country. Here's how the new rule works and who it will affect.

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Aside from the uncertainty regarding a long-awaited Spain-UK exchange agreement for regular driving licences, there is another driving change is on the horizon in 2022 which has been confirmed, and it concerns vans or car trailers. 

What

From next year, an international goods vehicle operator licence will be required for people based in the UK who want to bring a van over to the EU or Schengen zone.

It costs £257 (€301) to apply for a goods vehicle operator licence plus an extra £401 (€470) for the licence. It needs to be renewed every five years at a further cost of £401.

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When

The change comes into force in May 21st, 2022.

Who

The changes do not affect everyone and depend first of all on the size of your van or trailer and secondly on the reason for your trip.

The rules apply to;

  • vans with a maximum authorised mass (MAM) over 2,500kg (2.5 tonnes) and up to and including 3,500kg (3.5 tonnes)
  • vans towing a trailer with a gross train weight (GTW) over 2.5 tonnes and up to and including 3.5 tonnes
  • cars towing a trailer with a GTW over 2.5 tonnes and up to and including 3.5 tonnes

The smallest Ford Transit-type vans are generally less than 2.5 tonnes MAM, but a long-wheel base van is likely to be covered by this regulation.

Then there is the purpose of your trip.

The licence is not required if you are “transporting goods on a non-commercial basis (not for ‘hire or reward’)”, the UK government website states.

So if for example you have loaded up your own van to bring furniture over to your Spanish house, then the licence is not required because you are not being paid for this service – although you may have to pay duty on the items you bring in.

But the regulation will cover removal firms or couriers – so if you are using any of these services to transport goods to Spain, expect prices to increase to cover the operator’s costs.

The regulations apply only to those based in the UK, so if you want to take a van over from Spain to the UK then there is no need for the extra licence.

Find full details of the changes on the UK government’s page HERE

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