Brexit update – information for bus and coach operators

The Brexit transition period will end at 23:00 tonight, 31 December and from 1 January 2021, the way international bus and coach services operate in the EU will change.

Interbus Agreement – occasional services

The UK will join the Interbus Agreement on 1 January, ensuring international bilateral (point-to-point) occasional (i.e. unscheduled) journeys to and from the EU to continue.

Operators will not be able to transport passengers between two locations within the EU (known as cabotage), except as part of services between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Interbus does not yet allow regular (scheduled) or special regular services.

Regular and Special Regular services

The UK-EU Free Trade Agreement will allow international bilateral (point-to-point) regular (i.e. scheduled) and special regular services to continue to operate.

Operators will not be able to transport passengers between two locations within the EU (known as cabotage), except as part of services between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Island of Ireland services

Services operating between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will continue to operate with no changes.

Operators will continue to be able to transport passengers between two locations within the Republic of Ireland as part of a service between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Operators’ licences

Regardless of what kind of international service you are running, from 1 January 2021 drivers will need to carry a certified true copy of their Operators’ Licence on board at all times.

Certified copies are being sent to operators in the post automatically.

Driver CPC

Drivers will still need Driver CPC to drive professionally in the UK and the EU after Brexit. You must still complete your Driver CPC periodic training by your deadline.

Further information will be provided directly to operators in the coming days. More information is also available at GOV.UK