Feb 9th, 2022
5 mins
From 2 February, new EU rules mean that if you operate loaded goods journeys in and between European Member States (cabotage or cross-trade), you may need to register information digitally about your journeys on a new EU web-based portal.
This requirement will apply to you if you use:
- vans of any size or other light goods vehicles (sometimes called ‘light commercial
vehicles’)
- vans towing trailers
- cars towing trailers
- HGVs
- HGVs towing trailers
And also if you transport goods between two points in the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway for commercial purposes. This includes:
- cabotage jobs
- cross-trade jobs
- moving goods for your own business use
Check whether this new requirement applies to you
If this applies to you, details of the operator, driver, driver employment details, dates of travel, and the vehicle used before the journey commences will need to be registered on the EU Portal .
You must register for this service before you can add details of your drivers to use when posting declarations for future journeys.
More information and answers to frequently asked questions can be found here
Helpline numbers
Here is the list of helplines you may find useful. We have added hyperlinks that will take you to pages that provide extra information such as the opening hours for the helpline all of which have sufficient capacity to support businesses.
- Export support service
- Telephone: 0300 303 8955
- Textphone: 18001 0300 303 8955
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (excluding public holidays)
- HMRC Customs & International Trade Helpline – 0300 200 3700
- HMRC Imports and Exports General Enquiries (including GVMS) – 0300 322 9434
- New Computerised Transit System – 0300 322 7095
- DVLA Contact Centre – 0300 790 6802
- DVSA:
- Vehicle Operator Licensing Enquiries – 0300 123 9000
- International Road Haulage Permits – 0330 678 1117
- The Office for Product Safety and Standards – 0121 345 1201
- MHRA Customer Service Centre – 020 3080 6000
- National Supply Disruption Centre – 0800 915 9964
- Rural Payments Agency (RPA) Trader team – 0330 041 6500
- Animal, Plant and Health Agency (APHA) – 0300 1000 313
- Defra Rural Services – 0300 020 0301
- Environment Agency England – 03708 506 506
- Forestry Commission – 0300 067 4000
- Fish Exports Helpline – 0330 159 1989
- The Intellectual Property Office – 0300 300 2000
- BEIS Public Enquiries Helpline – 020 7215 5000
- BEIS Business Support Lines:
- England – 0800 998 1098
- Scotland – 0300 303 0660
- Wales – 0300 060 3000
- Northern Ireland – 0800 181 4422
- Citizen Advice Consumer Helpline – 0808 223 1133
- Department for Education Helpline – 0370 000 2288
- Home Office – UK Visas & Immigration Helpline – 0300 790 6268
- Home Office – EU Settlement Scheme Application Resolution Centre – 0300 123 7379
HMRC also operates a number of services, including:
- Import/export general enquiries can be made by calling 0300 200
- You can also speak to an adviser online about general import and export
- It is also possible to send a question about imports, exports and customs reliefs.
DEFRA Helplines:
DEFRA also has a number of additional helplines for the commodity you are exporting to the EU.
For questions to the DVSA on vehicle operator licensing you can call 0300 123 9000. For questions to the DVLA you should call 0300 790 6802.
The UK Government also operates an online forum where you can access key information
and ask questions directly on customs and tax.
