minibus operator licence
Discussion
looking at adding a 17 seater minibus to our taxi fleet, as such just looking for confirmation on a few points from someone familiar with commercial licencing
I presume we are fine to use a 17 seater for private bookings on a restricted O licence as it wont be the majority of our business?
ie 15 taxis and 1 minibus?
licences required
Restricted O licence (max 2 vehicles)
Driver D1 with Driver CPC
storage - off road storage suitable for the vehicle with land owners permission or our own yard.
Class 5a MOT presume annually? along with frequent safety checks - i presume our current garage who looks after our 8 passengers vivaros and transits can be our appointed person as long as records are kept - we would be proposing 4 weekly checks to the TC (any thoughts on the frequency i undestand DVSA recommend every 10 weeks as a maximum) but given our budget we would be looking at older transits or mercs rather than a brand spanking new mini coach
funding available - £3100 for the first vehicle and £1700 if we add a second, does this have to be ringfenced and kept seperate at all times or is it a snap shot at the time of application for the O licence?
anyone care to add anything to the above that i may have missed off?
just an idle thought at the moment but the number of bookings we are getting that tie up 2x 8/9 seaters it seems a no brainer to add a 16 passenger minibus to our fleet.
I presume we are fine to use a 17 seater for private bookings on a restricted O licence as it wont be the majority of our business?
ie 15 taxis and 1 minibus?
licences required
Restricted O licence (max 2 vehicles)
Driver D1 with Driver CPC
storage - off road storage suitable for the vehicle with land owners permission or our own yard.
Class 5a MOT presume annually? along with frequent safety checks - i presume our current garage who looks after our 8 passengers vivaros and transits can be our appointed person as long as records are kept - we would be proposing 4 weekly checks to the TC (any thoughts on the frequency i undestand DVSA recommend every 10 weeks as a maximum) but given our budget we would be looking at older transits or mercs rather than a brand spanking new mini coach
funding available - £3100 for the first vehicle and £1700 if we add a second, does this have to be ringfenced and kept seperate at all times or is it a snap shot at the time of application for the O licence?
anyone care to add anything to the above that i may have missed off?
just an idle thought at the moment but the number of bookings we are getting that tie up 2x 8/9 seaters it seems a no brainer to add a 16 passenger minibus to our fleet.
I might have this wrong but I understood the restricted ops licence is for when the minibus use isn't for use as part of a passenger carrying business, for example centre parcs have a couple of vehicles to ferry their staff about, or the sports club for taking kids to matches etc. Using the vehicle for private bookings is using as part of your main business and therefore you'd need a normal licence. I think there's another type of restricted licence for registered routes (school runs basically) but that's not going to be any use for private hire stuff.
I think PEK is right
GOV.UK said:
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’re operating your vehicles as a sideline and not as your main job.
https://www.gov.uk/psv-operator-licencesYou 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’re operating your vehicles as a sideline and not as your main job.
Storage is fine. They may write to locals.
Your periodic checks - I would go with 5 weeks. Its the most common. You wont get longer on your first OL. Once you have some encounters and MOTs they might allow a little more time between checks.
Funding they just want to see a bank statement or overdraft letter at time of application.
Make sure you have a good tachograph regime and good software. (we use tachotek)
Keep all your defect notes.
Make sure you have a planner for R&M that covers at least 6 months which is on the wall or similar.
Make sure you have the ability to check brake lights in the yard. (mirror on a wall or similar that your reversing cam can see)
Be aware of the new tyre regs if buying older vehicles.
Who ever is doing your R&M make sure you trust them, they could really land you in hot water.
Get good dash cameras or possibly a full CCTV system.
Your periodic checks - I would go with 5 weeks. Its the most common. You wont get longer on your first OL. Once you have some encounters and MOTs they might allow a little more time between checks.
Funding they just want to see a bank statement or overdraft letter at time of application.
Make sure you have a good tachograph regime and good software. (we use tachotek)
Keep all your defect notes.
Make sure you have a planner for R&M that covers at least 6 months which is on the wall or similar.
Make sure you have the ability to check brake lights in the yard. (mirror on a wall or similar that your reversing cam can see)
Be aware of the new tyre regs if buying older vehicles.
Who ever is doing your R&M make sure you trust them, they could really land you in hot water.
Get good dash cameras or possibly a full CCTV system.
You can choose the frequency of your PMI's based on the predicted mileage you will be covering in the minibus. There is no input from DVSA in terms of frequency. They need to be done no more than every 10000 km's. As said above these need to be planned as a very minimum 6 months ahead. They prefer 12 months if it's practical. You can reduce the frequency without informing the DVSA but you can not extend the frequency without informing the DVSA.
The workshop can reschedule these with you at later date if required. They will be planned based on the taking place within the working week that the 6,8 or 10 weeks of the scheduled date, you are not tied to a particular date as such just the week of the year. So for a 10 week PMI plan week 10,20,30 etc.
If you are applying for a restricted then be prepared for regular finiancial inspections to check on financial standing and main incomes rules.
They are very strict on the main income rules. If you have more income at any point with your restricted licence then you will be required to apply for a Standard National.
If you want less hassle get a Standard National or International.
The workshop can reschedule these with you at later date if required. They will be planned based on the taking place within the working week that the 6,8 or 10 weeks of the scheduled date, you are not tied to a particular date as such just the week of the year. So for a 10 week PMI plan week 10,20,30 etc.
If you are applying for a restricted then be prepared for regular finiancial inspections to check on financial standing and main incomes rules.
They are very strict on the main income rules. If you have more income at any point with your restricted licence then you will be required to apply for a Standard National.
If you want less hassle get a Standard National or International.
Edited by cts1975 on Friday 29th October 13:43
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