Peru

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

Goods Transport Authorization Required

Yes

Yes, for the company operating the trucks. Under the National Transport Administration Regulation, carrying goods by road for payment is a “public transport service” that may be provided only by a carrier (“transportista”) authorized for that purpose. The authorization is granted by the MTC’s Directorate of Land Transport Services, is valid for 10 years, and must be renewed within the 60 days before it expires. The regulation treats goods transport as a national-scope service, so the authorization comes from the national ministry rather than a regional or city government. A professional mover carrying a client’s household goods for payment falls under public goods transport in the “general goods” (“mercancías en general”) category. A company carrying only its own goods in its own trucks falls under separate private transport rules, which do not apply to a mover’s paid work.

Who May Hold the Authorization

The regulation defines a carrier as a natural or legal person that provides public transport of people or goods. The carrier must keep the vehicles, organization, and infrastructure needed to provide the service; the MTC’s oversight agency has cancelled authorizations of goods carriers that had no enabled vehicles. No nationality or foreign-ownership condition on the domestic goods transport authorization was identified in this research.

Vehicle Enablement and Inspection Required

Yes. Each truck used for the service must be listed in the authorization and enabled (“habilitado”), which the MTC records through a vehicle circulation card (Tarjeta Única de Circulación, issued electronically). Vehicles must be designed by the manufacturer for carrying goods, must pass periodic technical vehicle inspection (Inspección Técnica Vehicular), and must keep a current inspection certificate.

Driver Requirements

Yes. Drivers must hold a valid driving licence for the class of vehicle they drive, issued under the National Driving Licence Regulation (Supreme Decree 007-2016-MTC). The carrier must also register its drivers, and keep the list current, in the MTC’s national driver roster (Sistema Nacional de Nómina de Conductores).

Compulsory Motor Insurance Required

Yes. Every motor vehicle on Peruvian roads must have a current compulsory traffic accident insurance policy (Seguro Obligatorio de Accidentes de Tránsito, SOAT), and the transport regulation requires carriers to keep SOAT in force for their fleet. SOAT covers occupants and third parties injured in traffic accidents. It does not cover the goods being carried. No separate mandatory cargo or civil liability policy for domestic goods carriers was identified in this research.

Carrier Liability Rules

No removal-specific law was identified. Available sources indicate that a carrier’s liability for loss of or damage to goods in Peru is governed by the carriage provisions of the Commercial Code of 1902, under which the carrier is generally liable from receipt of the goods until delivery unless it proves an excepted cause. Separately, the Consumer Protection and Defense Code makes the provider responsible for the “suitability” (“idoneidad”) of its services, meaning the match between what the consumer was led to expect and what the consumer actually received. No rule requiring movers to insure customers’ goods was identified, so customers should agree in writing on the scope of service, any declared values, and any additional cargo insurance.

Consumer Protection

Yes. The Consumer Protection and Defense Code (Law 29571, published September 2, 2010) is Peru’s general consumer protection law. INDECOPI is the national consumer protection authority.

Complaints Book (Libro de Reclamaciones) Required

Yes. Under Article 150 of the Code and its regulation, businesses open to the public must keep a Complaints Book, in physical or virtual form, and display a notice telling consumers it is available. Businesses that also sell through online channels must additionally offer a virtual Complaints Book. Under the Code as amended in 2022, the business must answer a complaint within 15 business days, and that period cannot be extended.

Consumer Complaint Resources (For Movers Not Vetted as ITMs)

Yes. A consumer can first record a complaint in the mover’s Libro de Reclamaciones. INDECOPI also accepts consumer complaints, including online through its “Reclama Virtual” platform, and works toward a solution between the consumer and the business. Peru also has a Consumer Arbitration System, organized by INDECOPI, which resolves disputes with binding effect where the business has adhered to the system or accepts arbitration in the specific case.

Industry Association

None found. No national household-moving trade association was identified in this research.

OverviewOverview & Scope

Peru regulates the business of carrying goods for hire at the company level, through an authorization from the Ministry of Transport and Communications under the National Transport Administration Regulation. For a household goods mover, the relevant authorization is for public goods transport in the general goods category. The authorization lasts 10 years and covers the specific trucks enabled under it. Each truck must also pass periodic technical inspection and carry SOAT insurance, and drivers must be licensed and registered in the national driver roster. The authorization attaches to whichever company operates the trucks. A mover that uses its own trucks needs it directly. Where a mover subcontracts the trucking, the carrier’s own authorization covers the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold it. No Peruvian rules specific to household moves were identified, so liability for the goods follows general carriage law and the consumer protection code. As a consumer-facing business, a mover must also keep a Libro de Reclamaciones and answer complaints within the legal deadline, and consumers can escalate unresolved complaints to INDECOPI.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Company licensing

1. Register the business in Peru. MTC resolutions identify carriers by their taxpayer number (RUC, from the national tax authority SUNAT) and public registry (SUNARP) entries.
2. Where the company operates its own trucks to carry clients’ goods for payment, obtain an MTC authorization for public goods transport and renew it within the 60 days before it expires.

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own trucks)

3. Have every truck enabled under the authorization, with a current vehicle circulation card.
4. Keep a current technical inspection certificate and SOAT insurance for every truck.
5. Ensure every driver holds a valid driving licence of the correct class, and register drivers in the MTC’s national driver roster.
6. Keep the vehicles, organization, and infrastructure needed to provide the authorized service.

Subcontracted transport

7. Where transport is subcontracted, use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

Customer practices

8. Keep a Libro de Reclamaciones (physical, virtual, or both), display the required notice, and answer complaints within 15 business days.
9. Ensure contracts and consumer-facing practices comply with the Consumer Protection and Defense Code, including the suitability (“idoneidad”) of the service provided.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• MTC authorization for public goods transport (general goods), valid and renewed within the 60 days before expiryWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired

Vehicles and drivers (where the mover operates its own trucks)

• Each truck enabled under the authorization, with a current Tarjeta Única de CirculaciónWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Current technical inspection certificate (Inspección Técnica Vehicular) for each truckWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired
• SOAT insurance in force for each truckWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Each driver holds a valid driving licence of the correct classWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Drivers registered, and the list kept current, in the MTC national driver roster (Sistema Nacional de Nómina de Conductores)Where applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by AffirmationRequired
• Vehicles, organization, and infrastructure needed to provide the authorized service maintainedWhere applicable (mover operates its own trucks)Verified by AffirmationRequired

Subcontracted transport

• Where transport is subcontracted, the mover uses carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they performWhere applicableVerified by AffirmationRequired

Customer practices

• Libro de Reclamaciones kept (physical or virtual, plus virtual where the mover sells online), notice displayed, and complaints answered within 15 business daysVerified by AffirmationRequired
• Contracts and consumer-facing practices comply with the Consumer Protection and Defense Code (Law 29571), including suitability of the serviceVerified by AffirmationRequired