How to apply for a PSV licence

You can apply for a PSV operator’s licence online . If you’re applying for a standard licence, you’ll be asked to nominate a transport manager as part of your application. You’ll usually get a decision within 7 weeks. It’s illegal to operate a vehicle before your licence has been issued. Once you’ve got your licence it will not have an expiry date, but you’ll be asked to confirm your details every 5 years. The Traffic Commissioner’s Office will get in touch with you to check them. You’ll need to pay a continuation fee if you’ve got a special restricted (taxi) licence. The Traffic Commissioner can suspend or revoke your licence if they suspect you’ve been breaking its terms. You must also tell the Traffic Commissioner if your circumstances change . Fees Type of licence Fees Application for a standard licence £209 Application for a restricted licence £209 Application for a special restricted (taxi) licence £61 Continuation fee for a special restricted (taxi) licence (payable every 5 years) £61 Make changes to a licence £122 Ways you can pay Pay for your licence online, by phone or by post. Paying online You can pay any application or licence fees when you apply for a vehicle operator licence online . Paying by phone You can pay by phone by calling the DVSA helpline. DVSA helpline Telephone: 0300 123 9000 Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm Find out about call charges Paying by post Send a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘ DVSA ’ to the Central Licensing Office. Central Licensing Office Hillcrest House 386 Harehills Lane Leeds LS9 6NF

Making changes to your PSV licence

You can make changes to your PSV operator’s licence once you have it, for example add more vehicles to it. You can update your licence online . You can make most changes to your licence for free. You must pay £122 if you want to: increase the vehicle limit on your licence upgrade your licence from standard national to standard international and increase the vehicle limit at the same time Changes of circumstance You must tell the Traffic Commissioner within 28 days if: there’s any change to the correspondence address of the business there’s any change to the establishment address (standard licences only) there’s any change in the address of your operating centres there’s any change in the trading name of the business any of the persons named on the licence have died - you may need a new licence there’s been a change of partners if it’s a partnership firm - you may need a new licence there’s been a change of transport managers you, your transport manager, officers employees or agents have any relevant convictions there’s been any other change that the Traffic Commissioner asked you to report as a condition of getting your licence You’ll also have to tell the Traffic Commissioner if there’s been a change in the ‘legal entity’ of your business, for example if: your company changes from being a sole trader or partnership to a limited company there’s been a change in your registered company number there’s been a change of directors or change in share holding Send details of any changes to the Office of the Traffic Commissioner’s Central Licensing Office at the DVSA . DVSA helpline Telephone: 0300 123 9000 Monday to Friday, 7:30am to 6pm Find out about call charges Central Licensing Office Hillcrest House 386 Harehills Lane Leeds LS9 6NF

You can appeal if your application for a PSV operator licence is refused. You’ll need to send a written notice of appeal to the Upper Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Chamber. There is no fee. Your notice of appeal needs to be received within one month of the Traffic Commissioner’s decision. Upper Tribunal Administrative Appeals Chamber Traffic Commissioner Appeals 5th floor, Rolls Building 7 Rolls Buildings Fetter Lane London EC4A 1NL Upper Tribunal adminappeals@justice.gov.uk 0207 947 7422 Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm Find out about call charges Guidance on making an appeal Download detailed Tribunals Service guidance on making an appeal . Appealing an Upper Tribunal decision If your appeal is unsuccessful and you think that the decision is wrong, you can appeal to the Court of Appeal (England and Wales) or the Court of Session (Scotland). You must have permission from the Upper Tribunal, or if the Upper Tribunal refuses, from the Court. Your application for permission to appeal must be received within 1 month of the original appeal decision. Download detailed guidance about appealing an Upper Tribunal decision .

PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator licences

Overview

You need a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s 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’re 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’re 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’ll need a London Service Permit to run a private bus or coach service in London.

Taxis and private hire services in London are licensed by Transport for London (TfL).

View a printable version of the whole guide

PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator licences

Overview

Types of PSV licence

Standard licence - national operations only

Standard licence - national and international operations

Restricted licence

Special restricted licence

Licensing in London

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PSV (Public Service Vehicle) operator licences

Overview

Types of PSV licence

Standard licence - national operations only

Standard licence - national and international operations

Restricted licence

Special restricted licence

Licensing in London

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