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1. Do you really need a transport licence (Transportgenehmigung)?
It depends on the situation:
| Situation | Do you need a licence? |
|---|---|
| You transport your own furniture (non-commercial / private move) | No, you do not need a licence |
| You work as a removal service (Umzugsfirma) or sell furniture and deliver it to customers | Yes, you need a licence according to § 3 GüKG |
| You use a vehicle ≤ 3.5 t (small van) for minor commercial jobs | In some cases no licence, but you may be subject to customs/road inspections |
| You use a truck > 3.5 t for organised commercial transport | Mandatory: Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis or EU licence |
2. What type of licence is required for commercial transport?
| Type of transport | Required licence |
|---|---|
| Within Germany only, using vehicles > 3.5 t | Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis from the local Verkehrsamt (traffic authority) |
| Within the European Union | EU licence for cross-border road haulage |
| Using vehicles ≤ 3.5 t on a regular commercial basis | No specific transport licence, but you must register a business (Gewerbeanmeldung) and comply with labour and tax law |
3. Requirements for obtaining a Güterkraftverkehrserlaubnis
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Business registration (Gewerbeanmeldung) | Commercial activity must be officially registered |
| Certificate of professional competence (Fachkundeprüfung under § 3 GüKG) | Proof of professional competence, usually via an IHK examination |
| Financial standing | €9,000 for the first vehicle + €5,000 for each additional vehicle |
| Reliability | Police clearance certificate, extract from the central trade register, no serious offences |
| Suitable vehicle | Registered in the company’s name or under a leasing/long-term rental contract in the company’s name |
Authority in charge:
Verkehrslenkung Berlin – Güterkraftverkehr
Official website: https://www.berlin.de/verkehr
What happens if you operate without the required licence?
-
Fines of up to €20,000 under § 19 GüKG
-
Temporary prohibition from continuing operations
-
Possible tax prosecution if there is no clear registered business record
Does furniture transport within Berlin districts require special permits?
| Requirement | Situation |
|---|---|
| Temporary no-parking zone (Halteverbotszone) | You must apply to the Straßenverkehrsbehörde (road traffic authority) to set up a no-parking zone for loading/unloading |
| Transport to/from an environmental zone (Umweltzone) | The vehicle must have a valid low-emission sticker (Feinstaubplakette – green) |
| Commercial use of pavement or road space | You may need a special use permit (Sondernutzung), especially for mobile stalls, sales vans, etc. |
The editorial team of this website strives to provide accurate information based on thorough research and consultation of multiple sources. Nevertheless, errors may occur or certain details may not be fully verified. The information contained in these articles should therefore be regarded as an initial, non-binding reference. For definitive and legally reliable information, you should always contact the competent authorities or qualified professional advisers.
