International: Hungary

At a glanceRequirements at a glance

EU Community Licence

Yes

Required where the mover operates its own vehicles across borders. International carriage of goods by road for hire within the EU requires a Community Licence. In Hungary it is issued by the transport authority of the capital or county government office, and only to a company that already holds a Hungarian road goods transport licence. Under EU law the licence is valid for renewable periods of up to ten years. The company keeps the original, and a certified copy must be carried in each vehicle used for international carriage.

Driver Attestation for Non-EU Drivers

Required where the mover operates its own vehicles across borders with non-EU drivers. If a driver on international carriage is neither an EU national nor a long-term resident under EU law, the company also needs a driver attestation (közösségi járművezetői igazolvány) for that driver, issued by the Hungarian transport authority. It is valid for up to five years.

International Road Permits Outside the EU

Required where the mover operates its own vehicles to or through non-EU countries that need them. Carriage to, from, or through countries that are not covered by the Community Licence, such as some neighbouring non-EU countries, may need a bilateral road transport permit or a multilateral permit issued under the European Conference of Ministers of Transport system (CEMT). In Hungary these international permits are handled by the minister responsible for transport, through the Transport Authority. Whether a permit is needed depends on the destination and transit countries.

Cabotage Limits

Applies where the mover operates its own vehicles on domestic moves in other EU countries. Cabotage means domestic moves carried out inside another EU country by a carrier based elsewhere. A Hungarian carrier may do up to three cabotage operations within seven days after an international delivery into that country, and must then wait four days before doing cabotage there again with the same vehicle.

International Liability Regime

The CMR convention, an international treaty on road freight liability that Hungary promulgated in 1971, does not apply to the carriage of household goods in a removal. Liability for an international removal therefore depends on the law that governs the contract, and the mover’s own terms matter. Customers should check the liability terms and declared-value options in the contract before the move.

Insurance

No Hungarian or EU rule requiring movers to insure customers’ goods on international moves was identified in this research; customers should ask what protection, if any, is offered. The domestic compulsory motor insurance is described on the Hungary page; its cover in other countries the vehicle enters should be confirmed with the insurer.

OverviewOverview & Scope

A household goods mover operating only within Hungary needs the road goods transport licence and other domestic requirements on the Hungary page. International moves by road add a Community Licence, which the government office issues only to a holder of the national licence, with a certified copy in every vehicle used abroad. Non-EU drivers also need a driver attestation. Moves to or through countries outside the Community Licence system can require bilateral or CEMT permits, which in Hungary are handled at ministry level. As with domestic work, these licences attach to whichever company operates the vehicles. Where a mover books an international move and subcontracts the road leg, the carrier’s own Community Licence and permits cover the transport it performs, and the mover should use carriers that hold them. The CMR convention excludes household removals, so international removal contracts are not subject to its liability limits.

RegistrationRegistration & Compliance Essentials

Movers that carry goods across borders in their own vehicles must:

1. Hold the domestic road goods transport licence described on the Hungary page, since a Community Licence is issued only to its holders.
2. Obtain an EU Community Licence from the government office, and carry a certified copy in every vehicle used for international carriage.
3. Obtain a driver attestation for any driver who is not an EU national or EU long-term resident used on international carriage.
4. For moves to or through non-EU countries, obtain the bilateral or CEMT permits the route requires.
5. Respect the EU cabotage limits when doing domestic moves in other EU countries.

Movers that subcontract the international road leg must:

6. Use carriers that hold the licences required for the transport they perform.

ChecklistCompliance checklist

Company licensing

• EU Community Licence heldWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across borders)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Bilateral or CEMT permits held for non-EU routes that require themWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles to or through those countries)Verified by DocumentRequired

Subcontracted transport

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

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

• Certified copy of the Community Licence held for, and carried in, each vehicle used internationallyWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across borders)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Driver attestation held for each non-EU driver on international carriageWhere applicable (mover operates its own vehicles across borders with non-EU drivers)Verified by DocumentRequired
• Cabotage limits observed in other EU countries (three operations in seven days, then a four-day wait)Where applicable (mover operates its own vehicles on cabotage)Verified by AffirmationRequired