Applying for EU Community license for buses and coaches in occasional services for the first time

If you run a bus company and want to offer occasional services in member states of the European Union (EU), you need an EU Community license. You also need this if you want to travel through other EU member states to reach a destination outside the EU.

Occasional services include

• Excursions
• Vacation trips
• Trips with rental buses

Journeys are made with motor vehicles that are suitable and intended for the transportation of more than 9 persons, including the driver, according to their design and equipment.

The EU Community license also entitles you to provide transport services in EU member states. With this so-called cabotage, you may offer transport services where the origin and destination are in the same EU country.

You can only apply for an EU Community license if you already have a permit for passenger transport by bus in Germany.

The EU Community license is issued for your company and is not transferable. It is valid for up to 10 years and can then be extended.

You can apply for the license for several vehicles. You will receive one original license and as many certified copies as you register vehicles. Each vehicle must carry a certified copy when driving.

The EU community license can be withdrawn temporarily or permanently, for example

• for road traffic violations
• for violations of driving and rest periods
• if you carry out other, unauthorized transport services
• if the conditions of the application are no longer met

Requirements

• You have a permit for passenger transportation by bus in Germany.
• You comply with all legal requirements for buses and drivers, for example:
  
  • Speed limiters
  • Compliance with the permitted dimensions
  • Compliance with the permissible weight
  • Qualification of the drivers
  • Compliance with driving and rest periods