Own goods or hire or reward?
A Restricted licence is normally the own-goods route where an operator licence is needed. In-scope hire-or-reward work calls for the appropriate Standard licence. Mixed work should not be assumed to be own-account.
UK only or international?
Standard National covers domestic hire or reward; Standard International covers international hire or reward. The lower 2.5-tonne threshold can apply to qualifying international hire-or-reward operations in Europe.
Check vehicles and exceptions
Use maximum plated weights, combinations and any relevant unladen-weight rules, not the cargo on a single trip. Exemptions and Northern Ireland procedures need separate consideration. Use our checker as a starting point, not a binding decision.
General guidance for Great Britain only, not a definitive decision for your circumstances. Refer to current GOV.UK goods-vehicle operator licensing guidance and Transport Manager guidance. Northern Ireland has a separate regulator and process.
← All guides