Run occasional international services
The UK will join the Interbus Agreement. This will allow the international carriage of passengers by bus or coach.
It applies to the EU, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Moldova, Turkey and Ukraine.
The UK’s membership of the Interbus Agreement will allow international occasional services to continue.
Check back for updates regarding the status of UK’s membership of the Interbus Agreement.
Your drivers will need to carry the following documents:
- a certified copy of their standard international operator licence
- a top copy of the Interbus waybill – buy this from the Confederation of Passenger Transport
- a copy of the vehicle log book (V5C)
Run regular international services
The Interbus Agreement does not yet cover regular or special regular services. It is expected to be extended to cover them before 1 January 2021.
You will be able to apply to run new regular or special regular services when the Interbus Agreement is extended to cover these.
Check back for updates.
Services to non-EU countries or countries not in the Interbus Agreement
Bus and coach operators will not be able to run:
- regular services to outside of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway
- occasional services to countries which are not in the EU or are not part of the Interbus Agreement
- regular or special regular services in the EU if the Interbus Agreement is not extended
You’ll be able to drive through countries that are not in the Interbus Agreement, but they cannot be your destination.
Example
Your service could drive through Switzerland, but it would not be allowed to stop there.
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 or 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 and EEA from 1 January 2021.
Your drivers will need to carry multiple green cards if:
- you have fleet insurance - you will 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
- Contact your vehicle insurance provider at least 1 month before you need green cards.