The three operator licence types

Which licence a business holds decides what it is allowed to carry, for whom, and how far. Each licence has exactly one type — measured across all 69,127 of them, not one carries two.

Restricted

The operator carries only its own goods — its own stock, its own materials, its own equipment. It may never carry goods for another business for payment. No qualified transport manager is required, which is why this is the licence held by builders, farmers and shopfitters rather than by hauliers.

The 31,967 Restricted licences

Standard National

The operator may carry goods for hire or reward — that is, for other people, for money — anywhere in Great Britain, but not on international journeys. A qualified transport manager must be named on the licence at all times.

The 25,741 Standard National licences

Standard International

Everything a Standard National licence allows, plus international journeys under a UK Licence for the Community. This is the licence a haulier needs to load in Great Britain and unload on the continent.

The 11,419 Standard International licences

Vetting one operator? Dated licence check, £19 · Checking more than one? Bulk checks & fleet watch · The register as a dataset · Ask for a specific search