Many hauliers still ask dispatchers whether a driver needs a Kent Access Permit before heading to Dover or the Channel Tunnel. The short answer is no – the permit was dropped in 2021. What has not gone away is Operation Brock, the system that reroutes lorries in Kent when cross-Channel traffic backs up, and the customs references that decide whether your truck boards at all. This guide explains what is in force today, based on GOV.UK guidance.
Kent Access Permit: what it was and why it no longer applies
The Kent Access Permit (KAP) was a requirement for HGV drivers heading to the Channel in the first months after the Brexit transition period ended. The GOV.UK guidance on Kent traffic management on the M20 to Dover and Eurotunnel was updated on 20 April 2021 with a clear statement: you no longer need a Kent Access Permit to enter Kent.
That means older checklists, driver handbooks and subcontractor instructions that still mention a KAP are out of date. Removing that step from your internal procedures saves time, but it does not reduce the customs work – whether a truck boards now depends on valid declarations and, at most Channel crossings, a goods movement reference, covered below.
Operation Brock explained
Operation Brock is the traffic management system used in Kent when there is disruption to travel across the Channel. GOV.UK sets out the core rules:
- when Operation Brock is in force, HGVs travelling to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel must use the signed routes only,
- signs, diversions and speed limits direct drivers to designated holding areas,
- Kent Police take decisions on when to use the different phases of the system,
- officials intercept vehicles on other routes, and drivers who are caught are turned around and risk a £300 fine.
The same guidance mentions the A20 Dover TAP, a queuing system that holds lorries until there is space at the port. Brock and the TAP are traffic measures, not customs controls: a lorry can sit in a queue with perfect paperwork, or reach the port quickly and still be refused boarding because its references are wrong.
How Operation Brock affects your journey planning
GOV.UK advises drivers to plan breaks and overnight rest before entering Kent, to carry enough food and water and to check motorway service areas along the route. For transport managers this translates into a few practical habits:
- build buffer time into delivery slots on both sides of the Channel during peak periods,
- check live traffic status before dispatch, not only the night before,
- brief drivers – including agency and subcontracted drivers – that the signed Brock route is mandatory when active,
- make sure customs references are finalised before the truck enters Kent, because fixing a missing declaration from a holding area is slow and stressful.
Our article on common UK–EU border delays and their real costs covers the wider causes of hold-ups beyond Kent.
What matters now: GVMS and the goods movement reference
For exports from GB to the EU, the GOV.UK list of ports using GVMS (updated August 2026) includes Eurotunnel and Dover where the carrier is Irish Ferries, P&O or DFDS; at these locations the export declaration must be submitted as ‘arrived’ before the goods start their journey. For imports into GB, GOV.UK says you must always use the Goods Vehicle Movement Service (GVMS) for RoRo movements through Dover and Eurotunnel. To use it you must first register for GVMS; GOV.UK says you will need an EORI number starting with GB and must use exactly the same address you use for other HMRC services, otherwise the application is delayed. A customs agent can also register on your behalf.
For each crossing you then create a goods movement reference (GMR). The GOV.UK guidance on getting a goods movement reference (last updated 9 June 2026) lists what goes into a GMR for goods moving from GB to the EU:
- the vehicle registration number for accompanied movements, or the trailer or container number for unaccompanied ones,
- the DUCR of each combined customs and safety and security export declaration made in CDS – you can add several,
- the safety and security exit summary declaration MRN where one is needed,
- for Common Transit movements, the DUCRs or, where the movement qualifies, the transit accompanying document MRN,
- ATA, eATA or TIR carnet numbers where relevant (paper carnets must travel with the goods).
GOV.UK is explicit that you must include declaration references for all goods you are carrying. Commercial goods declared orally or by conduct, and empty trailers, also need a GMR – but those options must only be used when the goods genuinely meet the criteria, and misuse may cause delays and penalties. You present the GMR at the port you are leaving from, and the carrier will let you embark if the reference is valid.
If you would rather hand this over, a GMR and GVMS service run by a customs agency registered in CDS can prepare declarations and the reference before the truck leaves the depot. For hauliers working with Polish drivers, Easy Clearance has a practical note on what to do when a truck reaches the border without a GMR, and a comparison of Eurotunnel versus the ferry for UK–France freight.
Checklist: sending an HGV through Kent to the Channel
- Remove any Kent Access Permit step from old procedures – it is no longer required.
- Confirm your company (or your agent) is registered for GVMS with a GB EORI number.
- Make the export or transit declarations first and collect every DUCR or MRN.
- Create the GMR with all declaration references for every consignment on board.
- Check carnet numbers are included and paper carnets travel with the goods.
- Check live Kent traffic status before dispatch and brief the driver on Operation Brock routes.
- Plan rest, food and water before the driver enters Kent.
Mini-FAQ
Do I still need a Kent Access Permit to drive an HGV to Dover or Eurotunnel?
No. The GOV.UK guidance on Kent traffic management was updated on 20 April 2021 to say that you no longer need a Kent Access Permit (KAP) to enter Kent. What you do still need is valid customs paperwork for the goods, which for GB to EU movements through Eurotunnel, and through Dover with Irish Ferries, P&O or DFDS, includes a goods movement reference (GMR) created in GVMS.
What is Operation Brock?
Operation Brock is the traffic management system used in Kent when cross-Channel travel is disrupted. According to GOV.UK, when it is in force HGVs travelling to the Port of Dover and Eurotunnel must use the signed routes only, and signs, diversions and speed limits direct drivers to designated holding areas. Kent Police decide when the different phases are used.
What happens if a lorry driver ignores the Operation Brock routes?
GOV.UK states that officials intercept vehicles on other routes and that drivers who are caught will be turned around and risk a £300 fine.
Sources (gov.uk): Kent traffic management on M20 motorway to Dover and Eurotunnel; Get a goods movement reference; Register for the Goods Vehicle Movement Service; List of ports using the Goods Vehicle Movement Service. Traffic and border arrangements change – always check the current GOV.UK guidance before travelling.