Cabotage is the right to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory. And restriction of the operation of sea, air, or other transport services within or into a particular country to that country's own transport services.
You can carry out a limited number of cabotage jobs in another EU member state if you’re a UK haulier with a Community Authorisation. The jobs must follow a journey where goods were transported from the UK or another member state
Cabotage is the haulage of goods for hire or reward in one member state by a vehicle registered in a different member state.
As a goods vehicle operator, when you get a standard international licence you’ll automatically get a Community Authorisation.
Below is the list of countries detailing when and where UK hauliers can carry out cabotage
Important Note: You can only carry out up to 3 cabotage jobs in 7 days within the host member state.
EU member states which allow cabotage are:
Austria
Belgium
Bulgaria
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Ireland
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
Hauliers from these countries can also carry out cabotage jobs in the UK, subject to the same conditions.
You may have to register for and pay VAT in the country where the cabotage journey took place.
Important Note: Your right to carry out cabotage may be removed temporarily or permanently if you breach safety rules.
So there you have it, all you need to know about Cabotage and what you can and can’t do.
Thank you for reading