Cabotage related to transport of goods

Cabotage transport refers to national transport for hire or reward carried out for a limited period in a host Member State – that is, a Member State other than the one in which the transport company is established.

Cabotage may only be carried out within the EEA (European Economic Area). It is a requirement that the cabotage operation is performed in connection with a preceding international transport to the country. The international transport must be completed, and the cabotage operation must then be carried out within 7 days, with a maximum of 3 cabotage operations.

The international transport preceding the cabotage must not primarily be intended to enable the vehicle to perform cabotage.

A cabotage operation may consist of multiple loading points or multiple unloading points.

Cabotage may not be carried out on the basis of a preceding transport performed under a CEMT or bilateral permit.

UK transport companies are required to hold an EU license. After completing an international transport to an EU country, the UK company may carry out up to two journeys within the EU territory before returning to the UK. These may include both cabotage and cross-border operations, but only one cabotage operation is permitted.

Cabotage related to transport of passengers

Bus cabotage is defined as national passenger transport by bus for hire or reward, carried out by a transport company on a temporary basis in a host Member State, or the picking up and setting down of passengers within the same host Member State during international regular services, in accordance with the provisions of Regulation (EC) no. 1073/2009, provided that this is not the main purpose of the journey.

Cabotage may only be carried out within the EEA (European Economic Area).

It is possible to carry out bus cabotage as an extension of an international regular service within the EEA area. If an application is made for the possibility to perform bus cabotage as an extension of this service, the cabotage operations carried out within Denmark must comply with the rules applicable to long-distance coach services.

If the cabotage as an extension of the international regular service is approved, a cabotage permit will be issued by the Danish Road Traffic Authority.

In the case of occasional services, bus cabotage may be carried out on a temporary basis. In Denmark, this means a period of up to 7 consecutive days per calendar month. The cabotage operation must be performed in connection with the conclusion of an international occasional service.

UK transport companies may carry out international regular services to and from the EU, but they must also hold a special permit. They may operate occasional services in accordance with the Interbus Agreement. UK transport companies are not permitted to carry out cabotage operations in connection with international regular services or occasional services.

Minimum Hourly Wage for Cabotage Transport

Drivers must be guaranteed a minimum hourly wage when they are posted and perform cabotage and/or the road part of combined transport in Denmark. According to the regulations, foreign drivers operating in Denmark must be guaranteed a minimum wage equivalent to the minimum wage that Danish employers are required to pay for similar work.

The requirement for Danish-level remuneration applies from the start of the cabotage transport or the road part of combined transport and ends upon unloading the final cabotage trip or road part of combined transport.

The wage requirement does not apply during loading and unloading periods or rest periods. Furthermore, the wage requirement does not apply to bilateral international transport.

Type of TransportRate from the 1st of July 2025Rate from the 1st of July 2024Rate from the 1st of January 2024
Bus cabotageDKK 200.76DKK 195.15DKK 185.33
Initial or final road part of combined transport where the total permissible weight of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination exceeds 3,500 kgDKK 196.08DKK 190.30DKK 180.47
Cabotage transport where the total permissible weight of the motor vehicle or vehicle combination exceeds 3,500 kgDKK 196.08DKK 190.30DKK 180.47

Registration with Posting Declaration

When your company carries out the following types of transport operations in EU Member States, Norway, or the United Kingdom:

  • Cabotage operations involving goods or passengers
  • The initial or final road part of combined transport, provided that this part does not constitute a bilateral transport
  • Non-bilateral international transport (third-country operations)

you are required to register the posting via the official public interface connected to the Internal Market Information (IMI) system.

The registration must be completed no later than the start time of the posting and before the transport operation begins.

A posting declaration may be submitted and registered in the IMI system for a period of up to 6 months.

The driver must be able to present a copy of the posting declaration and documentation proving that the transport operations are taking place in Denmark. Upon request, the driver must also make tachograph data available to the authorities.

Go to the IMI registration (new window)

Questions and Answers Regarding Posting

Yes, drivers of vans over 3.5 tonnes are covered by Directive (EU) 2020/1057, provided they are performing one of the transport operations subject to posting rules.

No, the posting rules apply only where there is an employment relationship between the operator and the driver. Self-employed drivers are not considered posted under the directive.

No, drivers performing occasional passenger transport are not subject to the posting rules and therefore do not need to submit a posting declaration, as long as they are exclusively engaged in occasional or regular services.

This applies regardless of whether the transport is carried out with closed doors (e.g., local excursions) or not.

Rules and Regulations