International HGV Driving – The Requirements

As an HGV driver, there are a number of different job roles that you can go for, depending on the licences you have gained and the requirements you have for your job. Once you have completed your HGV training and gained your licence, you can look to get a job driving HGV’s either within the UK or internationally.

If you would like to drive internationally, there are a number of requirements you need to reach and additional licences you may need to obtain. In this article, we will go through all requirements and licences that you will need before you can drive an HGV internationally.

If you are traveling as a passenger or are driving a commercial vehicle between countries, you will need to hold the following:

Document requirements to drive an HGV internationally

  • A valid UK driving licence
  • An International Driving Permit (IDP), if the country you are traveling in requires
  • A valid Driver Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) card
  • A valid passport
  • Healthcare documents

Additionally, it is important to check the Covid-19 requirements for any countries that you will be entering, as these may vary depending on the location.

International permits and licences

It is recommended that you carry your UK driving licence with you at all times when driving within the UK.

Additionally, you will need to carry your UK driving licence when traveling internationally and ensure you have the correct licence category for the vehicle you are operating. There are a number of different HGV licence categories, including:

  • C1
  • C1+E
  • CAT C
  • C+E

Here at 2 Start Training, we provide driver training courses on all aspects and categories of HGVs, with a number of different courses available depending on individual requirements.

Furthermore, you will not need an International Driving Permit to drive in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland. There may, however, be situations where you will need an IDP to be able to drive in EU countries, including:

A valid passport must be carried by all people traveling on a journey in another country, including passengers and drivers. You must check the expiry date of your passport, as many countries have different entry rules affecting whether you can travel to or through them.

Your passport needs to be:

  • A paper driving licence
  • A licence issued in Gibraltar, Guernsey, Jersey or the Isle of Man

Driver CPC Training

Anyone driving a vehicle over 3.5-tonnes professionally or for hire and reward purposes in the UK is required to complete Driver CPC training and hold a valid Certificate of Professional Competence.

If you work for a UK company and hold a UK driver CPC card, you can still use this certification to drive to or through EU countries that UK companies are allowed to make.

There are different rules if you work for an EU company, and for more information, visit the gov.uk website for more information on international road haulage: HGV driver documents.

Following driver hours

Anyone who drives a goods vehicle over 3.5 tonnes within the UK and Internationally needs to follow rules on drivers’ hours and tachographs. To remain complaint, you need to have:

  • Tachograph charts and any legally required manual records for the current day and the previous 28 calendar days
  • The driver’s digital smart card, if you have one

Visit the gov.uk website for more information on driver hours and tachographs when operating goods vehicles.

Green cards and vehicle & trailer insurance

When driving an HGV or an HGV with a trailer internationally abroad, you must have the correct motor insurance to cover you and your vehicles abroad.

Additionally, in some countries, you could need certification to prove insurance on the goods being carried, otherwise, you may have to pay a premium.

Furthermore, some countries will require you to carry a ‘green card’ as proof of insurance cover. There are instances where you may be required to carry more than one green card, such as if you are operating a fleet or you are towing a trailer, as you will need a green card for both the vehicle and trailer.

Healthcare

Whenever you travel abroad, you should always ensure you have the correct travel insurance that includes healthcare cover, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) will give you access to local county health insurance during a temporary stay within an EU country.

These are just a number of the requirements and documents that are required when operating an HGV internationally, with each section having its own specific set of criteria that needs to be followed carefully. Additionally, there are extra documents that need to be obtained when driving internationally with an HGV and trailer.

For more information and detail on everything covered in this article, visit the Gov.uk website to read their International road haulage: HGV driver documents guidance.

Passports and Visas

A valid passport must be carried by all people traveling on a journey in another country, including passengers and drivers. You must check the expiry date of your passport, as many countries have different entry rules affecting whether you can travel to or through them.

Your passport needs to:

  • Be less than 10 years old
  • Have at least 6 months left on the day you travel

You do not need a visa if you are working within the EU for no more than 90 days in the EU within any 180-day period, although each country has its own entry requirements that you need to follow.

Share this post

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *