Transporter authorisation: Type 1, Type 2, and what to ask for
Every UK horse transport site says its carriers are DEFRA registered. Almost none say which tier, and the tier is the part that decides whether your journey is legal.
If someone is paid to move a horse more than 65 km, they need authorisation from the Animal and Plant Health Agency. There are two tiers, the difference between them is the eight-hour journey threshold, and the gap between what each one permits is where most of the trouble in this market sits.
The three tiers, in practice
| Journey | Needed |
|---|---|
| Private, any distance Not in connection with an economic activity | No authorisation. Horse passport must travel with the horse. Welfare duties apply in full. |
| Commercial, 65 km or less | No authorisation. Welfare duties apply in full. |
| Commercial, over 65 km, up to 8 hours | Type 1 authorisation, Certificate of Competence for driver and attendant, Animal Transport Certificate kept two years. |
| Commercial, over 8 hours | Type 2 authorisation, Certificate of Competence, vehicle approval certificate under Article 18(2), satellite navigation with records kept three years, written contingency plan, individual partitions, and a journey log for international journeys. |
Source: Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005; gov.uk and gov.scot commercial animal transport guidance.
Why Type 2 is the one worth verifying
Type 2 is harder to get and harder to keep. It requires the vehicle itself to be inspected and approved, not just the operator to be licensed. That is why ferry operators and Eurotunnel ask to see the vehicle approval certificate before they will book a horse, and why a carrier without one simply cannot take your horse across the Channel regardless of what they quoted.
It is also the tier that is publicly verifiable. APHA publishes the Type 2 list monthly as open data. Type 1 is not published in the same way, which means a carrier claiming Type 1 has to be taken on trust or asked for the certificate.
What a verified listing on Hoofline means
That the company appeared on the published APHA Type 2 register at the snapshot date shown on its profile. It is not an endorsement, it says nothing about the driver’s Certificate of Competence or the vehicle certificate, and it can go out of date. It is a floor, not a recommendation. Browse the directory.
The Brexit trap
A UK transporter authorisation is not recognised by the EU. A commercial carrier taking a horse to Ireland, France, the Netherlands or anywhere else in the EU needs transport documentation issued by an EU member state, in addition to holding the right UK tier for the journey.
This is, in our experience of reading carrier websites, the single most commonly absent requirement. A carrier can be entirely legitimate, hold Type 2, have run UK journeys for thirty years, and still not be permitted to deliver a horse into the EU. Ask the question directly: do you hold EU-issued transport documentation, and from which member state?
What else to ask before booking
- Which authorisation, and may I see it? Match the tier to your journey time, not your mileage.
- Am I the only pickup? The eight-hour clock starts at the first loading, which may not be yours.
- Does the driver hold a Certificate of Competence? So must any attendant handling the horses.
- For over 8 hours: is the vehicle approved, and does it have satnav? Both are legal requirements, not upgrades.
- For a border: EU transport documentation? And who books the Border Control Post appointment.
- What insurance covers the horse in transit? Ask for the sum insured and what it excludes. Marketplace escrow typically covers non-performance, not injury.
If the answers are vague
A good carrier answers all six of these in a couple of minutes, because they deal with them every week. Hesitation on which authorisation they hold is the one answer worth walking away from.
Common questions
What is the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 transporter authorisation?
Type 1 covers commercial journeys over 65 km and up to 8 hours. Type 2 covers commercial journeys over 8 hours and additionally requires a vehicle approval certificate, a satellite navigation system, and a written contingency plan. Both require a Certificate of Competence for the driver and any attendant. Authorisations are issued by APHA and last five years.
Do I need authorisation to move my own horse?
No. The regime applies to transport in connection with an economic activity. Moving your own horse is outside it, however far. The welfare duties under the Regulation still apply, and the passport must travel with the horse.
Is a UK transporter authorisation valid in the EU?
No. Since Brexit the EU does not recognise UK transporter authorisations. A commercial carrier moving a horse into the EU needs transport documentation issued by an EU member state. This is one of the most frequently missing requirements on cross-border moves.
How can I check a carrier holds Type 2 authorisation?
APHA publishes the list of Type 2 long-journey authorised transporters monthly as open data under the Open Government Licence. Hoofline cross-checks its directory against that register and shows the authorisation reference on each carrier profile.
Hoofline gives information, not legal or veterinary advice. The rules change, and the application depends on the specifics of your journey. Confirm requirements with your carrier, your vet and APHA before you travel.