Commercial goods transport with vehicles over 3,500 kg requires a licence. Here is the framework: the goods transport law and EU Regulation 1071/2009 with the four basic requirements — establishment, good repute, financial standing and professional competence — as well as the transport manager's role and the road to owning a haulage business.
Introduction
Behind each individual trip lies a framework about the profession itself: who is even allowed to transport goods for others for payment? This is regulated by the goods transport law (law on goods transport) together with EU Regulation 1071/2009 on access to the road transport profession and 1072/2009 on access to the market. If the driver understands the framework, he also understands why the papers must be in order — and he knows the way forward towards his own business.
When is permission required?
For professional international and domestic goods transport, the Community licence is used in practice, issued by the Road Directorate and provides access to the market in the entire EU. An original is issued to the company and a certified copy to each vehicle, which must be carried during operation.
De fire grundkrav (EU 1071/2009)
To obtain and retain the licence, the company must meet four requirements that can be continuously verified. If the company loses one of them, the licence can be revoked.
| Requirement | Short explanation | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| Establishment | Genuine and established place of business in the country with operating centre and documents | 1071/2009 art. 5 |
| Good character (reputation) | Management and transport manager must not have certain serious violations | art. 6 |
| Economic basis | Sufficient equity per vehicle | art. 7 |
| Professional competence | A transport manager who has passed the written test for transport managers (the subjects in Annex 1), prepared by the Danish Road Traffic Authority (BEK 522/2025, § 11) | art. 8 |
The economic foundation
The equity requirement is set in euros in Regulation 1071/2009 and ensures that the company has the financial backbone to run the fleet responsibly. For vehicles over 3,500 kg, the regulation requires EUR 9,000 for the first vehicle and EUR 5,000 for each additional one. The Danish Road Traffic Authority converts the amount into kroner once a year.
| Capital requirement 2026 | First licence/copy | Each extra copy/licence |
|---|---|---|
| Community licence for goods transport (over 3,500 kg) | DKK 67,150 | DKK 37,300 |
| Community licence for bus and coach transport | DKK 67,150 | DKK 37,300 |
| International van transport (2.5-3.5 t) | DKK 13,400 | DKK 6,700 |
| National van transport | DKK 13,400 | DKK 6,700 |
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