Types of Operator's Licence
Restricted licence
Own-account operations only - carrying your own goods in the course of your business. Cannot carry goods for other businesses for payment. Example: a building company carrying its own materials.
Standard National licence
Can carry for hire or reward within Great Britain. Requires a Transport Manager CPC holder and meets higher standards than Restricted. This is what most hauliers need.
Standard International licence
Can carry for hire or reward within Great Britain and internationally. Requires the same CPC qualification as Standard National. Needed for European haulage (post-Brexit UK-EU road haulage).
What Lenders Look For
- Copy of O-licence (or reference number if recently granted)
- Licence type must be appropriate for the proposed operation (hire/reward needs Standard, not Restricted)
- Number of vehicles authorised on the licence must accommodate the new vehicle
- Licence must not have conditions or formal warnings that suggest risk
- If applying for an O-licence, most lenders will consider finance in parallel - evidence of application helps