Road transport operator licence
Operator licensing for haulage and passenger vehicles.
If you wish to operate as a road haulage operator or road passenger transport operator you must by law hold either a valid road haulage operator’s licence or road passenger transport operator’s licence. This is a service provided by the Department of Transport.
Road haulage operator licensing
You need a road haulage operator’s licence if you are carrying goods for hire or reward in a vehicle or combination of vehicles where the maximum authorised weight is in excess of 3.5 (metric) tonnes.
/cyclops_mirror_bus.jpg?Status=Master&sfvrsn=d0437fd1_3)
'Hire or reward' haulage arises when you are paid for carrying someone else's goods. If you only do work for your own account, i.e. carriage of your own goods in your own vehicles driven by yourself or your employees, or in the delivery of goods to a customer who has bought those goods from you, then you do not need a road haulage operator’s licence.Road passenger transport operator's licence
You need a road passenger transport operator's licence if you are carrying passengers by road for 'hire or reward' in vehicles constructed and equipped for carrying nine or more passengers.
/bus63e68531-248a-4a6d-9207-f13b160a7f98.jpg?Status=Master&sfvrsn=584c444d_6)
'Hire or reward' arises when you are paid for carrying passengers. If carrying passengers is not your main business, and if you are not charging your passengers a fee, then you do not need a road passenger transport operator's licence.
For example, a hotel that owns a bus that it uses to ferry its guests, as a complimentary service, to and from an airport or tourist attractions, would not need a road passenger transport operator's licence.
Frequently asked questions
To apply for a road haulage operator’s licence or road passenger transport operator's licence contact the Road Transport Operator Licensing Unit:
Road Transport Operator Licensing Unit
Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport
Clonfert House
Loughrea
Co Galway.
091 872950 or LoCall 076 100 1601
Email: [email protected]
If you’re concerned that an operator or driver may not be complying with vehicle roadworthiness, tachograph, drivers' hours, driver CPC and/or operator licensing requirements, you can report your concerns in confidence to the Road Safety Authority.