Own-account operators in NI will need a licence from July

Own-account operators in Northern Ireland will need a licence from July for the first time.

The Department of the Environment has set the 1 July as the deadline that will bring those moving their own goods by road into the licensing fold.

Up until now only those providing hire and reward services were required to hold a Goods Vehicle Operator Licence in Northern Ireland when running vehicles exceeding 3.5-tonne GVW.

However from this summer all operators running vehicles above 3.5 tonnes will be included in the regime.

The change is part of a protracted licensing shake-up in the territory. More information is available on the Department of the Environment website.