Between ECMT Member countries and in transit through the territory of one or several ECMT Member country(ies) by vehicles registered in an ECMT Member country.

The licences are not valid for transport operations between a Member country and a third country. For instance, a vehicle performing a transport between Norway (ECMT Member country involved in the quota system) and Iran as final destination (non-ECMT member country but neighbour of an ECMT Member country) cannot use an ECMT licence for such a transport.

ECMT licences are valid if transport is transiting through a third country (for instance, freight loaded in Norway to be unloaded in Russia, transiting through Iran).

Territorial limits:

Some of the licences may not be used on the territory of some Member countries and bear a red stamp to this effect. In particular, licences bearing a red stamp with the country code of Austria and/or Greece and/or Hungary and/or Italy are not valid on the territory of the respective Member country (ies).

Technical limits:

With effect from 01/01/2009 ECMT licences are issued only for the following vehicles:

1. "EURO III safe" lorry
2. "EURO IV safe" lorry
3. "EURO V safe" lorry

As from 01/01/2006 ECMT licences allow transport operations under the following conditions:

After the first loaded trip between the Member country of registration and another Member country, the haulier may perform three loaded journeys, (maximum) where the Member country of registration is not involved.

After these three maximum loaded journeys, the vehicle, loaded or empty, must come back to its Member country of registration.

Empty runs outside the country of establishment are not taken into account since they are not considered a transport operation. A transport journey or empty run to, or in transit through, the state of establishment is considered a return.

The use of ECMT Licences   

     1.      A licence may be used on board one vehicle at a time. It has to be carried  on board the vehicle between the points of loading and unloading for a laden journey or for the complete unladen journey, which precedes or follows a laden journey.

2. The country of loading of the vehicle may be different from the country of origin of the goods loaded.
3. An ECMT licence does not authorise cabotage.
4. It does not exempt the carrier from requirements relating to any other authorisations for the carriage of exceptional loads in terms of size or weight or for specific categories of goods (for example, dangerous goods).
5. An ECMT licence may be used for vehicles hired or leased, without a driver, by the transport undertaking to which it has been issued. The vehicle must be at the exclusive disposal of the undertaking using it when hired and must be driven by the staff of this undertaking. The following documents must be carried on board the vehicle:

a. The contract of hire or lease, or a certified conformed extract from that contract  giving in particular the name of the lessor, the name of the lessee, the date  and duration of the contract and the identification number of the vehicle (VIN).

b. Where the driver is not the person hiring the vehicle, the driver's employment contract or a certified extract from that contract giving in particular the name of  the employer, the name of the employee and the date and duration of the  employment contract or a recent payslip.

If need be, equivalent documents issued by the Competent Authorities of the Member country may serve as replacements for the documents referred to above. These documents should also at least be translated in English, French or German.

6. The ECMT licences may not be transferred by the licence holder to a third party.
7. As the name of the undertaking is to be written on the first page of the licence, it is necessary that this name correspond to the name of the haulage operator who carries out the transport operation.
8. In cases when a journey starts under one annual or short-term licence and is continued under another, issued for the next consecutive period, both the licences should be kept on board for the entire journey.
9. The ECMT licence(s), the logbooks and the relative certificates must not be sealed in foil or coated with a protective film.

Applying for an ECMT Licence

1. The condition for applying for an ECMT licence is that you must have a current International Road Haulage Operator's Licence.

2. An application form for an ECMT licence and application for the certificates to be carried on board the vehicle can be downloaded below.

3. As an ECMT licence can only be used on one vehicle at a time it may be necessary for you to apply for more than one licence, and corresponding number of certificates.

4. As the quota of licences granted is restricted, licences are issued on a first come, first served basis and are valid for a year (i.e. calendar year).

5. A logbook will issue with the licence to record all trips. The logbook is made out in the name of the Licence holder and endorsed with the corresponding number of the ECMT licence and is non-transferable.

6. The logbook must be completed for all journeys carried out under load, and between each loading and unloading point, and for every unladen trip.

7. The completed sheets of the logbook must be returned to the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, Clonfert House, Bride St., Loughrea, Co. Galway after the end of each month.

 Documents to be carried on board the vehicle       

1. A logbook.
   
2. The ECMT Licence, valid for a year with the stamps corresponding to the type of vehicle concerned (EURO III safe lorry, EURO IV safe lorry or EURO V safe lorry).
3. The certificate of compliance with technical provisions concerning exhaust and noise emissions and safety requirements for EURO III safe lorry, EURO IV safe lorry or EURO V safe lorry (green-coloured certificate).
4. The certificate of compliance with the safety requirements for the trailer or semi-trailer (yellow-coloured certificate).
5. The roadworthiness test for the motor vehicle and the trailer or semi-trailer (white-coloured certificate).