Road Haulage Licence in Lithuania

AT A GLANCE

A road haulage licence is required for any company that carries goods for third parties for payment using motor vehicles with a maximum permissible weight above 3.5 tonnes — this is a legal obligation, not an optional registration.
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.

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 transport licensing authority is the Lithuanian Road Administration (Valstybinė kelių transporto inspekcija — VKTI), which issues, maintains, and revokes road haulage licences.

Who needs a licence

The licence requirement is triggered by three conditions being met simultaneously: the company carries goods for third parties (not its own goods); it receives payment for doing so; and it uses vehicles with a maximum permissible weight above 3.5 tonnes. All three must be present. Own-account transport — a company using its own lorries to deliver its own products — does not require a road haulage licence. A removal company operating a 3-tonne van does not require the heavy vehicle licence. 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 demonstrates that the company has sufficient resources to properly launch and administer its road transport business. The required amounts are defined in EU Regulation 1071/2009 and have been unchanged since the regulation came into force.

€9,000 for the first vehicle in the fleet
€5,000 for each additional vehicle above the first
A company operating 10 vehicles must demonstrate €9,000 + (9 × €5,000) = €54,000 in financial standing
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

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 transport manager must be either an employee of the company or a director — a purely nominal appointment does not satisfy the condition
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. If the designated transport manager already holds a UK CPC, a German CPC, or a CPC from any other EU state, that qualification is acceptable to the VKTI. 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

The designated transport manager must be genuinely connected to the company’s transport operations. The VKTI accepts transport managers who are either employed by the company under a Lithuanian employment contract, or who are directors of the company. A transport manager who is neither an employee nor a director — for example, a contractor providing a nominal CPC appointment service — does not satisfy the genuine connection requirement. 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 be a registered Lithuanian company with transport as a registered activity code (49.41 — Road freight transport, or 49.42 — Removal services). SoDra employer registration is required before the employment contract for the transport manager can be concluded. We confirm registration status and correct activity codes at this stage.

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

The VKTI charges a state fee for issuing the Community Licence and each certified copy. The current fee schedule is published on the VKTI website and is subject to change. 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

The VKTI’s statutory processing time is 30 business days (approximately 6 calendar weeks) from receipt of a complete application. In practice, well-prepared applications with all documents in order are often processed in 3–4 weeks. 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.

The Community Licence covers all vehicles in the licensed company’s fleet that are above 3.5 tonnes maximum permissible weight and used for commercial haulage. Each vehicle must have its own certified copy of the Community Licence — one certified copy per vehicle, kept in the cab at all times during commercial operations. When the company acquires a new vehicle, a new certified copy must be obtained from the VKTI. 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.

Cargo insurance (CMR insurance — coverage for goods in transit under the CMR Convention on the Contract for the International Carriage of Goods by Road) is not a statutory requirement for obtaining a road haulage licence in Lithuania. It is, however, commercially essential for any international haulier — without CMR insurance, the company bears unlimited liability for loss or damage to cargo under the CMR Convention. Most shippers require evidence of CMR insurance before entrusting goods to a carrier. 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.