Taxi Driver Online

I am looking for some help in filling in an application form for a PSV operators licence so that I can operate one 17 seater minibus alongside my taxi business.

I applied to get the operators licence a few years back but was unsuccessful as I didnt have enough finances, but things have changed and things looking up so going to try again.

I do have a few questions if anyone can help:

I have been told that you can use an overdraft facility and a credit card as proof that I have enough funds to so am in the process of trying to get these set up, is this correct?

Question 8 and 8b: Do you intend to operate vehicles adapted to carry 9 to 16 passengers?
I will put yes but then 8b states how will I comply with the restrictions, number of hours I intend to work, this whole question stumps me as I am not really sure what to put if anyone can help?

Question 11: What is the proposed maximum number of weeks between safety inspections? I know that it must be tested every 12 weeks but am not sure how often it should be checked, if I said 6 weeks do I need to get it checked every 6 weeks and keep proof of the checks?

Question 12: Who will carry out the safety inspections and the facilities available? I will put down my local garage that does the repairs but are there anything specific they need in regard to facilities? He does lots of work on taxis and cars and buses but nothing bigger than an 8 seater so not sure if I can use him or another garage?

Question 13: Previous licence history. Is there a time limit on the licence history as I tried in 2011 so that was around 4 years ago, does this still have to be noted down or does this expire after say 12 months etc

Question 15: I know I need a restricted licence but it asks for how many community licences I require, I am assuming it would be 1?

Any help that anyone can give me would be gratefully accepted as its baffling my head!

I did think about asking my local bus companies about filling in the form but dont think thats a good idea as they will see me as competition.

Thanks!!!!

maybe a call to the local traffic commissioner?


i'm sure they would be willing to advise and get you started on the proper way. its in their best interests to

Not too keen on calling the traffic commissioner as when I originally called VOSA themselves about which licence I needed to operate 1 17 seater it took me 4 calls to find out which one I needed as each time the person on the phone didnt know!

I just thought it might be easier to ask someone who already has an operators licence etc

PM Roy the bus he's up to speed on all this stuff.

You want a Restricted operators Licence to allow up to 2 minibuses which are not your main Business and your Taxiing or PH,ing is.

Wasn't it access to around £10,000 of provable funding they request as well, Don't think you need have it Physically, but an Overdraft would show it as funds Available on your Business account so that would do.

I must admit when I used to Deal the the Traffic Commisioners office years ago I found they were very approachable and able people, helpfull indeed.

It wasn't rocket science to fill in the forms, but now the Extra rules regarding CPCs and Tachos and Speed limiters etc is what I would find off putting, don't think I could be bothered with all that hassle again, the only Benefit i had was that I was VAT registered and got the VAT back on my Fuel costs and because I was in Passenger Transport it was Zero rated so I didn't have to charge the Clients VAT on their price.


It's all covered here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/194259/PSV_Operator_Licensing_Guide.pdf
And Here:
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/341973/psv421-application-for-a-psv-operators-licence.pdf

Used to be £5000 and could be a credit card but was changed to funds in a bank held for 13 weeks

I cant understand how its not going to be part of the taxi business though?

http://www.transportsfriend.org/license/finance.html

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Your Probably right, maybe it was £5000, I think it depends on what the EU decides and converted into sterling to match

I started to do my HGV CPC course but fell by the wayside

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

You must have stopped going because it can be passed even if your asleep, It's just being there that counts.

https://www.gov.uk/psv-operator-licence ... sv-licence is where you'll find the information.
You will need finances of £3500 for the first vehicle and £1500 for the second on a restricted licence. The VOSA page is incorrect when it mentions vehicles under 8 seats, it should red over 8 seats and under 17 seats.

The EU regulations state readily available funds, so an overdraft facility, credit cards, cash in the bank will do. The TC will probably call you for a Public Inquiry as he tends to do with a lot of restricted licence applicants because so many abuse the system.

The restricted licence if for those who run say 3 or 4 cars and want to add a minibus to the fleet, or who may have a full time job and want to run a minibus as a sideline. The TC will want to see evidence of income from the other job, or cash flow forecasts. You will need off-road premises to operate from; you will need to have the vehicle safety checked, usually every 6-8 weeks whether it is used or not; you will have to have a tacho fitted and use it (except for regular runs such as school contracts). You will have to comply with the drivers hours, remember that taxi/ph work is still "work" and "driving" for the purpose of the drivers hours regulations.

The vehicle must have a Certificate of Initial fitness, so check that carefully before you buy any old minibus which can be of any age, unlike taxi/ph cars! I regularly run buses that are well over 60 years old with no problems, but that is my speciality.

For maintenance, get a written contract with a local garage who can deal with the minibus and make them aware that EVERYTHING they find defective MUST be fixed! The vehicle will need an annual test at a VOSA approved test facility (look up VOSA ATF for a list of your local ones). Do not treat the annual test as a "let's see what it fails on". It will flag you up as a "red" operator on the VOSA records and you will be the focus of attention at any VOSA inspections!

Have a look through the RouteOne website, court report pages, there's always lots of cases before the TC regarding errant restricted operators. Don't be one of them!

edit to add that your driver(s) will need the PSV licence and the driver cpc card to drive the minibus. Vosa stop + no driver cpc or tacho= immediate prohibition + hefty fine for driver + operator.

Thanks for the reply Roy!

Still have a few questions!

In regards to the restricted licence, if I operate an office where I have more than 3 or 4 cars is it still a restricted licence I would need? What licence do other offices have when they have 20+ cars etc

Whats hard to get my head around is the drivers hours under the EU regulations? I know that you are only allowed to drive 56 hours per week and the maximum is 10 hours in a day.

Question 1. How would the driver hours work if I say did a bus job at 13.00 and it took 1 hour then I parked up and wanted to start driving again around 20.00 until 04.00. I am guessing that really my working day would be starting at 13.00 not 20.00 so would I have to be off the road at 22.00?

Question 2. If I drove 20 hours over the weekend in the bus and then wanted to do 4 12 hour shifts in a car as a taxi driver then I am guessing that the shifts in the car would be classed as driving hours even though the car doesnt have a tacho? How does this work if I just wanted to call into town when I wasnt working, would this still be added onto my driving hours?

I have my PSV licence and CPC card so just need the operators licence but now I am wondering how I can make enough money as a taxi driver in a psv if my hours are limited so much and there are so many rules and regulations etc. There are a few big minibus operators in my licence and now I can see why they arent on the road so much. I have worked out that I could make enough money on a weekend but would only be able to drive at night so wouldnt be able to do a run midday run due to the regulations.

Thanks

Other than your Tacho Timed Minibus runs they would have no way of Knowing what your other runs times or hours driven would be, your cars have no Tacho Spy keeping an eye on your movements or timings, They would not be able to do much about it unless you were using a tachometer.

This is what I was thinking as I wouldnt be driving the bus all the time only when needed just dont want to get on the wrong side of the law and get fined!

"They" have been known to watch Restricted Operators and demanded to see invoices for minibus hire; bookings for taxi work etc. Like I said earlier, have a scan through RouteOne back issues to see how often restricted licence holders have lost their livelihoods through failing to obey the law.

There's a thread on here in the court case database I think regarding Wasteney. Have a read of that case, one of the worst case scenarios for a while involving minibuses/taxis/CT licences and no tachos.