Pedlar's certificate
A pedlar’s certificate is a document authorising the bearer to sell goods or services door-to-door anywhere in the UK for up to 12 months.
To qualify, you must be over the age of 17 and have been a resident for at least a month in the area in which you apply.
Find out more below, including how to apply for a pedlar’s certificate and the details you’ll need to support your application.
What is a pedlar?
As per the Pedlar’s Act 1871, a ‘pedlar’ is a self-regulated, certified, pedestrian service provider, travelling and trading within any part of the UK, carrying to sell or exposing for sale any goods.
In simple terms, this means any person who travels on foot, going from town to town or house to house selling goods or offering their skills in handicrafts and selling such things as pictures, dusters and household goods.
The Pedlars Act 1871 protects our civil liberty to freely trade in public under the authority of a pedlar's certificate.
How to apply for a pedlar’s certificate
To apply for a pedlar’s certificate, first download and complete the form.
Bring your completed form to your local police station with the items below. To find your nearest police station, visit our contact us page.
Please bring:
- one passport-sized photograph
- one proof of address
Please note: Pedlar’s Certificates issued by Cleveland Police can only be collected from Middlesbrough Police Station.
If you are successful in your application for a Pedlar’s Certificate, you will need to bring an administration fee of £12.25 (cash only) at the time of collecting your certificate.