Many courier companies are being excluded from the Road Tranporters Support Scheme because their vehicles do not meet the scheme’s eligibility criteria.

Light Commercial Vehicles LCVs) with a Gross Vehicle Weight of less than 3.5 tonnes are not eligible for the Road Tranporters Support Scheme, HGVIreland.com can confirm.

Following a flood of calls from the courier sector HGVIreland.com contacted the Department of Transport this week seeking clarity on the eligibility of couriers to enter the scheme.

A Department spokesperson confirmed that vehicles under a Gross Vehicle Weight of less than 3.5 tonnes are not eligible to enter the scheme.

The Spokesperson confirmed that licensed road haulage operators and the own account sector can apply for support under the Scheme. Companies delivering their own goods to a customer using their own vehicles and drivers are referred to as the “own account” sector.

Eligibility criteria

You must meet the following conditions, as of 01 March 2026, to apply for support:

1. Hold a road haulage operator licence issued by the Department of Transport; or
2. Be an operator who is not normally required to hold a road haulage operator licence, but your normal commercial activity relates to the carriage of goods by road; or
3. Hold a passenger operator licence issued by the Department of Transport.

You are required to be registered for tax in the State, have valid tax clearance, and be able to demonstrate that your business is an ongoing concern.

Your Tax Clearance Access Number (TCAN) is provided upon successful application for tax clearance with the Office of the Revenue Commissioners. Visit How to apply for a Tax Clearance Certificate to apply for your TCAN.

Further information on tax clearance is available at www.revenue.ie

You will be asked to make several declarations and provide supporting documents as part of the application process.

You may only make one application for the Scheme. Separate applications from the same person or business, or separate applications in respect of the same vehicles, may result in all such applications being rejected.

The Department will verify the information you have provided in your application with data held by the Department within the National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF), and with other government departments and agencies as part of the administration of the Scheme.

Vehicle eligibility criteria

You may only apply for support for vehicles in your fleet as of 01 March 2026. Those vehicles must meet all of the following conditions at that date.

1. The vehicle must be registered on the Department of Transport’s National Vehicle and Driver File (NVDF) database;
2. The vehicle must be properly taxed, including the payment of any arrears;
3. The vehicle must have a valid Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing (CVRT) certificate if it is more than 12-months old;
4. The vehicle has a gross vehicle weight exceeding 3.5 tonnes;
5. The vehicle is used by you/your company in the course of your normal business activity.

Please note that the Department will verify this information against our records to determine eligibility. You may not receive payment or your payment may be delayed if any vehicles for which you make a claim do not meet these criteria.

Licenced hauliers

If you hold a road haulage operator licence issued by the Department of Transport, please ensure you have your Operator Licence Number ready when completing the application form. This will allow you to submit less information during the application process.

Support will not be provided for vehicles with a gross vehicle weight less than 3.5 tonnes even if you are required to list it on your road haulage operator licence. The Department will automatically exclude these vehicles as part of the application process; you do not need to list them on the application form.

Support will not be provided for vehicles that have not been in use for the duration of the Scheme, you will need to list the registration number(s) of any such vehicles in your fleet. Examples include but are not limited to vehicles that are not used for the carriage of goods by road and vehicles that are off the road for repairs.