PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator licences
Overview
You need a public service vehicle (PSV) operator鈥檚 licence to:
- operate a vehicle for hire or reward (payment or payment in kind) that can carry 9 or more passengers
- operate a smaller vehicle carrying passengers and charging separate fares for the journey
Read PSV437, PSV operator licensing: a guide for operators.
Types of PSV licence
There are 4 types of PSV operator licences, plus special licensing rules in London.
Standard licence - national operations only
You can only operate in Great Britain if you apply for a standard licence. Most full-time commercial operators use standard licences.
Standard licence - national and international operations
This kind of licence lets you take passengers abroad as well as within Great Britain.
Restricted licence
You can only apply for a restricted licence for small-scale operations. They allow you to use 1 or 2 vehicles, and neither can carry more than 8 passengers.
You can carry up to 16 passengers in either vehicle if you do not use it as part of a passenger transport business, or you鈥檙e operating your vehicles as a sideline and not as your main job.
Special restricted licence
Special restricted licences are used to operate a licensed taxi on a local service. You can only apply for this licence if you鈥檙e a licensed taxi operator. A local service is one where:
- stops are no more than 24.15 kilometres (15 miles) apart
- at least one stop is within the area of the district council that issued your taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV) licence
The service must be registered with the local Traffic Commissioner.
Licensing in London
You鈥檒l need a London Service Permit to .
are licensed by Transport for London (TfL).