Road Haulage Licence in Lithuania

AT A GLANCE

A road haulage operator licence is generally required for commercial carriage of goods for hire or reward using vehicles or vehicle combinations with a maximum permissible laden mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes. Since 21 May 2022, EU operator licensing requirements have also applied to international commercial road haulage using vehicles or vehicle combinations exceeding 2.5 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. The applicable licence depends on the vehicle category, permissible laden mass and whether the transport operations are domestic or international.
Lithuania issues two types of road haulage licence: the EU Community Licence for international haulage across all EU member states, and the national licence for domestic operations within Lithuania only.
The Community Licence is governed by EU Regulation 1071/2009 and requires the applicant to satisfy four conditions: good repute, financial standing, professional competence, and effective establishment.
The designated transport manager must hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in Road Haulage — obtained by examination — before the licence can be issued.
We manage the complete licensing process: eligibility assessment, CPC guidance, document preparation, VKTI application, and certified copy management for each vehicle in the fleet.

Short answer

A road haulage licence in Lithuania authorises a company to carry goods commercially for third parties using vehicles above 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible weight. The Community Licence — the standard for international operators — is issued by the Lithuanian Road Administration (VKTI) and gives the holder the right to operate commercial haulage across all 27 EU member states. To obtain it, the company must demonstrate good repute, financial standing of €9,000 for the first vehicle plus €5,000 per additional vehicle, professional competence through a qualified transport manager holding a CPC, and genuine establishment in Lithuania. We prepare and manage the full application. Processing time is typically 3–6 weeks from a complete application.

Service	Price
Road Haulage Licence in Lithuania	9,900 EUR

Initial legal assessment of the client’s intended road haulage activity
Determination of the correct licensing route depending on whether the client will operate domestic or international freight transport
Preparation of the necessary documents for the registration of a new company in Lithuania
Assistance with the incorporation process and corporate structuring of the Lithuanian transport company
Preparation of corporate documents required for the transport licence application
Payment of state fees related to company registration
Payment of notary fees related to company registration
Preparation of the road haulage licence application file
Assistance with documenting the company’s financial standing
Assistance with appointing or confirming a qualified transport manager holding the required Certificate of Professional Competence
Assistance with preparation of documents confirming the company’s good repute
Review of the proposed vehicle structure, including whether the vehicles will be owned, leased or otherwise available to the company
Assistance with preparing documents confirming the company’s genuine establishment in Lithuania
Submission of the necessary documents to the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration
Communication support during the initial application stage
Assistance with obtaining certified copies of the licence for vehicles, where required

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What Is a Road Haulage Licence and Who Needs One

A road haulage licence — formally called a road transport operator licence — is a legal authorisation to carry goods commercially using heavy goods vehicles. In Lithuania, as across the EU, it is a mandatory requirement for any company that operates as a commercial haulier: a company that carries goods for payment on behalf of third parties using vehicles with a maximum permissible weight above 3.5 tonnes.

The legal basis

Road haulage licensing in Lithuania is governed by EU Regulation 1071/2009 (for international Community Licences) and by the Lithuanian Law on Road Transport. The regulation establishes harmonised requirements across all EU member states — the four conditions of good repute, financial standing, professional competence, and effective establishment apply equally whether the licence is sought in Lithuania, Germany, or Poland. Lithuania’s competent authority for road haulage operator licensing is the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration (Lietuvos transporto saugos administracija – LTSA). LTSA is responsible for issuing and administering road transport operator licences, including Community licences and the corresponding certified copies. The former State Road Transport Inspectorate (VKTI) is no longer the competent licensing authority.

Who needs a licence

Road haulage licensing requirements depend on whether goods are transported for hire or reward, whether the operations are domestic or international, and the maximum permissible laden mass of the vehicle or vehicle combination. Commercial international transport generally requires the appropriate Community licence where the vehicle or combination exceeds 2.5 tonnes. For domestic transport within Lithuania, the relevant licensing threshold generally applies to vehicles or combinations exceeding 3.5 tonnes. Own-account transport may be exempt from road haulage operator licensing where the applicable statutory conditions are satisfied. A removal company operating a 3-tonne vehicle may therefore require a Community licence if it performs qualifying international commercial transport. A retailer’s distribution company transporting the retailer’s goods to its own shops does not require the licence. But any company that takes on paid haulage work for external clients using HGVs of any size above the threshold requires a licence before the first load moves.

Community Licence vs. national licence

The Community Licence authorises international road haulage — carrying goods between Lithuania and other countries, or through other countries in transit. It also authorises domestic haulage within Lithuania. For most professional hauliers, the Community Licence is the correct instrument because it covers both domestic and international operations. The national licence covers domestic Lithuanian haulage only and is less commonly sought by companies that intend to operate internationally. Both are issued by the VKTI and subject to the same four eligibility conditions — the difference is solely in geographic scope.

Feature	Community Licence	National Licence
Geographic scope	International EU + domestic Lithuania	Domestic Lithuania only
EU passporting	Yes — operates across all 27 EU states	No — Lithuania only
Cabotage rights	Up to 3 operations in 7 days in any EU state after international delivery	None
Eligibility conditions	Good repute, financial standing, CPC, establishment	Same four conditions
Issuing authority	VKTI	VKTI
Licence duration	10 years, renewable	10 years, renewable
Certified copies	One per vehicle — must travel with vehicle	One per vehicle — must travel with vehicle
Best for	International and mixed domestic/international operators	Pure domestic operators

The Four Eligibility Conditions

EU Regulation 1071/2009 sets out four mandatory conditions that every road haulage licence applicant must satisfy. There are no exceptions and no partial satisfaction — all four must be met before the VKTI can issue the licence.

Condition 1 — Good Repute

Good repute is assessed for both the company's management personnel and the designated transport manager. It requires the absence of any serious criminal convictions or serious infringements of road transport regulations in any EU member state. Convictions or findings against the company itself, its directors, or the transport manager are assessed individually.

No serious criminal convictions — particularly for offences related to commercial road transport, driving time rules, weights and dimensions, dangerous goods, road safety, professional liability, human trafficking, or drug trafficking
No serious road transport infringements — repeated violations of tachograph rules, driving time and rest period rules, or roadworthiness standards can collectively constitute a loss of good repute
No relevant insolvency — bankruptcy or personal insolvency within the past 5 years may affect good repute assessment
Criminal record checks required — from Lithuania and from every country where the person has lived for more than 12 months in the past 5 years
VKTI assessment — the VKTI makes the good repute determination based on the submitted documents; any doubt is resolved against the applicant
Ongoing obligation — good repute is not assessed only at the point of licensing; a serious conviction after licence issue can trigger revocation

Condition 2 — Financial Standing

Financial standing requirements are established by Article 7 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, as amended by Regulation (EU) 2020/1055. The applicable amounts depend on the composition of the operator's fleet.

EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle where the operator uses vehicles or vehicle combinations exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
EUR 5,000 for each additional vehicle or vehicle combination exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
EUR 900 for each additional vehicle or vehicle combination exceeding 2.5 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes.
For operators using exclusively vehicles or vehicle combinations exceeding 2.5 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes, EUR 1,800 for the first vehicle and EUR 900 for each additional vehicle.
Acceptable evidence: annual accounts signed by a certified accountant showing net assets at or above the required level
Alternative: a bank guarantee from a Lithuanian bank covering the required amount
Alternative: a sworn accountant's statement confirming available capital at or above the required level
Assessed annually — the company must maintain the required financial standing throughout the licence period; falling below the threshold risks licence suspension
Applies to the licensed entity — personal assets of directors are not counted; the company's own balance sheet is assessed

For example, an operator with 10 vehicles exceeding 3.5 tonnes must generally demonstrate EUR 54,000 in financial standing. Operators with mixed fleets must calculate the requirement according to the applicable vehicle categories.

Condition 3 — Professional Competence (CPC)

At least one person within the company — the designated transport manager — must hold a Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in Road Haulage. The CPC is obtained by passing a written examination. The transport manager must be genuinely connected to the business and must actively manage its transport operations.

The CPC is obtained by passing the VKTI-administered professional competence examination in road haulage
Examination subjects: civil law, commercial law, social law, fiscal law, financial management, market access, technical standards, road safety, and logistics
EU recognition — a CPC issued by any EU member state's competent authority is recognised in Lithuania without re-examination
The designated transport manager must effectively and continuously manage the undertaking's transport activities. Under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, the transport manager may have a genuine internal connection to the undertaking, including as an employee, director, owner or shareholder. Alternatively, an undertaking meeting the relevant conditions may appoint an external transport manager under a written contract specifying the person's responsibilities. An external transport manager may generally manage up to four undertakings with a combined fleet of no more than 50 vehicles, subject to any stricter applicable national limits. A purely nominal appointment does not satisfy the professional competence requirement.
One transport manager can be designated for multiple companies — subject to limits; VKTI assesses whether the person can genuinely manage the operations of all designated companies
If the transport manager leaves the company, the company has 6 months to designate a replacement before the licence is at risk
We advise on CPC examination preparation and can introduce CPC holders through our professional network where needed

Condition 4 — Effective and Stable Establishment

The company must be genuinely and stably established in Lithuania — not simply registered with a letterbox address. The establishment condition requires actual business activity in Lithuania, physical premises accessible to inspectors, and vehicles that are genuinely based and operated from Lithuania.

Physical premises in Lithuania — office or depot from which transport operations are actually managed
Administrative documents on the premises — vehicle registration documents, driver employment records, tachograph records, maintenance logs
Vehicles based in Lithuania — the fleet must be parked, maintained, and dispatched from Lithuania
Genuine management presence — the transport manager must be actually present and active, not merely nominated
VKTI inspection — the authority may conduct an on-site inspection of the premises before issuing the licence; inspection confirms that the establishment is genuine
Registered address alone is insufficient — a serviced office or virtual office does not satisfy the establishment condition
Post-issue monitoring — VKTI may conduct periodic checks of establishment; failure to maintain genuine establishment risks licence suspension

The Certificate of Professional Competence (CPC) in Road Haulage

The CPC is the most operationally significant element of the road haulage licence application for many operators — it is the condition that most often delays or prevents licensing where a qualified transport manager is not already in place.

What the CPC examination covers

The professional competence examination for road haulage is a written examination covering nine subject areas. The VKTI administers the examination in Lithuanian. Applicants must pass all sections to obtain the certificate.

Civil law — contract law, carriage contracts, commercial agency, and liability principles applicable to road transport
Commercial law — company law, insolvency, and commercial documentation relevant to haulage operations
Social law — driving and rest time regulations (EU Regulation 561/2006), tachograph rules, and employment law for HGV drivers
Fiscal law — VAT, corporate income tax, and tax obligations specific to transport operations
Financial management of the undertaking — business plans, financial ratios, cost accounting for haulage, and financial standing requirements
Access to the market — licensing rules, cabotage regulations, international transport permits, and customs procedures
Technical standards and operation — vehicle types, weights and dimensions, roadworthiness, maintenance obligations, and dangerous goods rules
Road safety — accident prevention, driver health and fitness requirements, and safety management systems
Logistics — load securing, intermodal transport, and transport planning principles

 CPC from another EU member state

A CPC issued by the competent authority of any EU member state is fully recognised in Lithuania without re-examination. Certificates of Professional Competence issued by competent authorities in EU Member States in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009 are generally recognised in Lithuania. Certificates issued in the United Kingdom must be assessed separately following Brexit and should not automatically be treated as equivalent to EU-issued certificates. The applicant must verify whether the particular UK qualification is recognised under the applicable EU rules or whether additional qualification procedures are required. Recognition and any necessary translations must be confirmed with LTSA. The holder must provide the original certificate and, where it is not in Lithuanian, a certified Lithuanian translation. Post-Brexit UK CPC holders should note that UK-issued CPCs obtained before 31 December 2020 continue to be recognised under the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement provisions on professional qualifications.

Transport manager — employment or directorship

Under Article 4 of Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009, a transport manager must effectively and continuously manage the company’s transport activities and satisfy the applicable professional competence and good repute requirements. The transport manager may be internally connected to the undertaking or appointed as an external transport manager under a written agreement, subject to the regulatory conditions and applicable limits. External transport management is legally permitted where the arrangement is genuine and the appointed person exercises effective operational responsibility. A nominal appointment without actual management involvement is not sufficient. We structure the transport manager appointment correctly for each licensing engagement.

One transport manager — multiple companies

A single CPC holder can be designated as transport manager for more than one company. However, the VKTI assesses whether the transport manager can genuinely and effectively manage the transport operations of all companies for which they are designated. A transport manager designated for a large fleet across multiple companies without adequate time and operational involvement will not satisfy the genuine management requirement. The VKTI may impose limits on multiple designations if it determines that the transport manager cannot effectively manage all designated companies.

The Road Haulage Licence Application Process

The VKTI processes road haulage licence applications through a defined procedure. The statutory processing time is 30 business days from receipt of a complete application. Incomplete applications are returned and the clock restarts from the point of resubmission. We prepare complete applications to avoid this delay.

Eligibility assessment
We review the company’s current status against all four conditions. Financial standing is calculated based on the planned fleet size. Good repute is assessed for each named management person. The CPC status of the intended transport manager is confirmed. Any gaps are identified before the application process begins — discovering a gap during the VKTI review costs weeks.

Company registration and SoDra setup
The applicant must satisfy the establishment and eligibility requirements applicable to road haulage operators in Lithuania. Depending on the legal structure, an appropriately established Lithuanian undertaking or another eligible business form may apply. The relevant economic activity classification and corporate registration information must be accurate. The transport manager may be appointed through a qualifying internal relationship or, where permitted, an external transport management agreement. A Lithuanian employment contract and prior employer registration with Sodra are therefore not universal prerequisites for every transport manager appointment.

Document preparation
We prepare the complete application document set: company registration certificate, articles of association, extract from the company register, financial standing evidence (accountant’s statement or bank guarantee), transport manager’s CPC certificate, transport manager’s employment contract or director appointment confirmation, criminal record certificates for all relevant persons, proof of premises, and vehicle registration documents for each vehicle to be covered.

Translation and certification
Documents issued in foreign languages must be accompanied by certified Lithuanian translations. Criminal record certificates from non-Lithuanian authorities require both apostille and certified translation. CPC certificates from other EU states require certified translation if not already in Lithuanian. We coordinate translations through our network of certified translators.

Application submission to VKTI
The complete application package is submitted to the Lithuanian Road Administration either electronically through the VKTI e-services portal or in person at the VKTI office in Vilnius. We submit and track the application, managing all VKTI correspondence during the review period.

VKTI review and possible inspection
The VKTI reviews the application against the four conditions. Where the authority has questions about any element — particularly the establishment condition — it may conduct an on-site inspection of the premises. We prepare the company for any inspection and accompany the inspector where helpful. If any documentation requires supplementation, we respond promptly.

Licence and certified copies issued
On successful review, the VKTI issues the Community Licence certificate and one certified copy for each vehicle specified in the application. Each certified copy must be kept in the corresponding vehicle during all commercial haulage operations. We collect the licence and copies and confirm all details are correct.

Fleet changes and renewals
When vehicles are added to the fleet, new certified copies must be obtained from the VKTI. When vehicles leave the fleet, certified copies must be returned. The Community Licence is valid for 10 years and must be renewed before expiry. We manage fleet change notifications and renewal applications as part of our ongoing transport compliance service.

Ongoing Compliance Obligations After the Licence Is Issued

Obtaining the road haulage licence is the beginning, not the end, of the regulatory relationship. Licensed operators are subject to ongoing compliance obligations that VKTI inspectors and roadside transport inspectors enforce actively.

Tachograph and driving time rules

All HGVs above 3.5 tonnes used in commercial haulage must be fitted with a digital tachograph. Drivers must use a tachograph driver card, and all driving time and rest period data must be recorded. EU Regulation 561/2006 sets maximum daily and weekly driving times and minimum rest periods that apply to all commercial HGV drivers. Violations — including manual entries, card manipulation, or exceeding driving time limits — are among the most frequently cited infringements in VKTI roadside checks and can affect the company’s good repute.

Vehicle roadworthiness

Licensed vehicles must be maintained in a roadworthy condition at all times. Lithuania requires periodic technical inspections for commercial vehicles more frequently than for private cars. The company must maintain records of all vehicle maintenance and inspections. Vehicles found to be in a dangerous condition during a roadside check may be immobilised, and repeated roadworthiness infringements can be treated as serious infringements affecting good repute.

Cabotage rules for international operators

A Lithuanian-registered haulier operating internationally can perform cabotage in other EU member states — carrying goods between two points within a single EU country that is not Lithuania. Cabotage is strictly limited: a maximum of 3 operations within 7 days following the final unloading of an international delivery into the host country. After the 7-day period, the vehicle must leave the country before any further cabotage can be performed. The ‘cooling-off’ period introduced by the EU Mobility Package means vehicles must leave the cabotage country for at least 4 days before returning for further cabotage.

Annual financial standing confirmation

The company must maintain the financial standing required for its fleet size throughout the licence period. The VKTI may request confirmation of financial standing at any time — typically through a chartered accountant’s statement or updated annual accounts. A company whose net assets fall below the threshold must notify the VKTI and may be given time to remedy the position before the licence is suspended.

Road Haulage Licence Service Pricing

Our licensing services are priced at fixed fees. Government fees payable to the VKTI are separate and quoted alongside our service fee in the engagement proposal.

Service	Price
Road haulage licence eligibility assessment — Written assessment of all four conditions; document checklist; timeline and cost estimate	€300
Community Licence application — single vehicle — Complete application preparation, VKTI submission, and licence collection; government fees excluded	€9,900
Community Licence application — up to 5 vehicles — Complete application for a fleet of up to 5 vehicles; certified copies for each vehicle	€10,900
Community Licence application — 6–15 vehicles — Fleet application; all certified copies; ongoing VKTI correspondence	€12,200
Community Licence application — 16+ vehicles — Large fleet applications quoted individually based on fleet size and complexity	On request
Adding vehicles to an existing Community Licence — VKTI notification, additional financial standing confirmation, and certified copy issuance	€900 per vehicle
Community Licence renewal (at 10-year expiry) — Full renewal application preparation and VKTI submission	€900
Transport manager CPC guidance and preparation — Advising on examination content, study materials, and examination registration with VKTI	€600
Document translation and certification (per document) — Certified Lithuanian translation of foreign-language documents	€80–€150
Ongoing transport compliance advisory — annual retainer — Tachograph compliance, driving time rules, fleet change management, and VKTI correspondence	On request

 Government fees

State fees for issuing a Community licence and its certified copies are payable in accordance with the applicable Lithuanian fee schedule. The competent licensing authority is the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration (LTSA). Applicants should verify the current government fees and payment instructions through LTSA before submitting an application. These fees are separate from professional advisory and application preparation charges. We include the current government fee in the total cost estimate provided at the engagement proposal stage — there are no hidden charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Road haulage licence applications are examined by the Lithuanian Transport Safety Administration (LTSA) under the applicable Lithuanian procedures and Regulation (EC) No 1071/2009. Article 11(3) of that Regulation provides a general maximum period of three months after receipt of all necessary documents, with a possible one-month extension in duly justified circumstances. Shorter national administrative deadlines may apply to specific procedures. The actual processing time depends on the completeness of the application, verification of professional competence and financial standing, and any additional supervisory checks. A guaranteed processing period of three to four weeks should not be assumed. The most common sources of delay are: incomplete financial standing documentation; criminal record certificates that have not been apostilled and translated; a transport manager whose CPC was issued by another EU state and has not been translated; or an establishment that the VKTI wishes to inspect before issuing the licence. We prepare all documentation before submission to eliminate these delays. The total timeline from starting the process — including any company registration and CPC preparation — is typically 6–10 weeks.

No. Operating as a commercial haulier without a valid road haulage licence is a serious regulatory violation. Lithuanian road transport inspectors conduct roadside checks specifically to identify unlicensed operators. A vehicle caught operating commercially without a licence faces immobilisation, and the company faces significant fines. There is no temporary operating permission while the application is being processed. We advise on the earliest possible application submission to minimise the gap between company readiness and licence issuance.

If the designated transport manager leaves the company — whether through resignation, dismissal, or any other reason — the company has 6 months to designate a replacement transport manager who holds a valid CPC. During this 6-month period, the company may continue operating under its existing licence. If no qualified replacement is designated within 6 months, the VKTI may suspend the licence. In practice, the VKTI may grant a further extension in exceptional circumstances, but this is at the authority’s discretion. We advise companies on contingency planning for transport manager succession.

No. Cabotage — carrying goods between two points within a single EU country that is not the vehicle’s country of registration — is strictly limited. Under EU Regulation 1072/2009 as amended by the EU Mobility Package, a Lithuanian-registered vehicle delivering goods into another EU country may perform a maximum of 3 cabotage operations in that country within 7 days of the final international delivery. After that period, the vehicle must leave the cabotage country. A mandatory 4-day cooling-off period applies before the same vehicle can return to perform further cabotage in that country. Exceeding these limits is a serious infringement that can affect the company’s good repute and licence.

A Community licence covers the authorised international commercial road haulage activities of the licensed operator. Since 21 May 2022, Community licensing also applies to qualifying international commercial haulage using vehicles or vehicle combinations exceeding 2.5 tonnes but not exceeding 3.5 tonnes. The operator must hold the appropriate number of certified copies for the vehicles used in activities requiring the licence. A certified copy must be carried in the vehicle during the relevant transport operations. Additional certified copies and related fleet updates are administered by LTSA, subject to the applicable licensing requirements. When a vehicle is sold or taken out of service, the corresponding certified copy must be returned to the VKTI. Drivers operating without the certified copy in the vehicle face fines at roadside checks.

CMR carrier’s liability insurance is not generally a statutory prerequisite for obtaining a Lithuanian road haulage operator licence, although it is an important risk management measure for international carriers. Under the CMR Convention, a carrier’s liability for cargo loss or damage is generally subject to statutory limits, commonly 8.33 Special Drawing Rights (SDR) per kilogram of gross weight short, subject to the applicable rules and exceptions. Higher or unlimited liability may arise in specified circumstances, including wilful misconduct or equivalent fault under Article 29 of the Convention. The absence of CMR insurance does not automatically remove the Convention’s liability limitations, but it may leave the carrier personally responsible for uninsured claims. Compulsory third-party liability insurance (motor vehicle liability insurance) for each vehicle is a separate mandatory requirement — this covers damage to third parties but not to the cargo carried.

Yes. A company that holds a road haulage licence for third-party commercial operations can also operate its own vehicles for own-account transport (carrying its own goods) without any additional licensing requirement. The road haulage licence covers the commercial haulage activities; own-account transport by the same company using its own vehicles for its own goods does not require any separate licence. The two activities can coexist within the same company. However, vehicles used for own-account transport cannot be used to carry third-party goods for payment without the haulage licence covering those operations.

Ready to apply for your road haulage licence?

Contact us o discuss your fleet size, transport manager status, and target start date. We will confirm your eligibility against all four conditions, identify any gaps to address before application, and provide a fixed-fee quote for the complete licensing engagement. We can have a complete Community Licence application submitted to the VKTI within 2–3 weeks of instruction.

Milana Scherbakova

LICENSING SERVICES MANAGER

+370 6949 5456
info@tet.lt

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