Taxi Driver Online

Can anybody tell me what the legislation is for operating a 16str .
I believe that you cannot operate it as a hack or PH.
I have been told previously that you need to get a coach license which costs thousands per year to operate a 16str and that all drivers need PSV. Also that it would have to have a tacho fitted.
One of my competition, have just put one out and I feel I may be missing a trick or they have not gone down the right channels.
Many Thanx
Scott

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spot on cabs Cornwall

If the operation of the 16 seater is not the main part of your business you can apply for a restricted PCV license. With this you can operate up to 2 vehicles with 9-16 passenger seats. In order to get a restricted PCV license you would still need to be of good standing and have access to around £3500-5000 to cover any repairs that may be neccesary. This money does not have to be cash but can be an overdraft facility or a credit card. The vehicle will need to have a PCV mot which costs at least £108 but this does include the cost of the PCV operators license. The vehicle will also need to undergo regular inspections, every 8-10 weeks, at an approved workshop. Depending on the age of the vehicle it may also need a speed limiter fitted as well as the tachograph. The paperwork is also a bit more involved than taxi paperwork.
If you intend to operate a 16 seater as your only vehicle or the larger part of your business then you will need a National or it might even be an international operators license and this is where it gets very expensive.

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Grandad,

My view is that unless you have a fleet of these things, or specific weekdays contracts, then they are more aggro than they are worth..

But then I hate PSVs anyway.

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IDFIMH

OK thanx, what are the restrictions in regards to drivers, can they drive the vehicle on a normal driving licence or do they need to be PSV trained?
Checks every 8-10 weeks would be a bind, not sure if it would procure enough work to justify the hastle expense involved.

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spot on cabs Cornwall

Drivers will need a PCV drivers license because the work is hire or reward. drivers hours are also regulated and include hours worked in other jobs.
The 8-10 week inspections are mandatory and cost around £50 a pop.

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Grandad,

i thought the £5000 had now to be a cash balance in the bank held for 3 months minimum, also dont you have to state where their op centre is and who will be maintaining the vehicle?

a 9-16 licence is a D1 int it?

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

All seems a bit like hard work. I would prob only use it on Friday and Saturday nights. Think I'll stick to 8 strs. The cost to train drivers would take forever to recoup. Thanks for your guidance / help. It does make life a little easier talking to people who don't blind you with unnecessary clap trap.

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spot on cabs Cornwall

As mentioned above you will need at least a national restricted ops licence.
The vehicle must pass a PCV test/MOT and have a COIF Certificate of initial fitness.
You will need to have the minibus inspected at least no more than every 10,000 KM
You will need to have a written maintanace contract in place with a suitable workshop.
You will need to demonstrate that you have forward planning for required maintenance and testing.

Drivers must have a D1 licence cat as a min without the 101 restriction.
The 101 rstriction is over written once you pass your PCV test.
Drivers will need to pass an initial CPC test and then complete 25 hrs training every 5 years to maintain this certificate.

Its a long drawn out process that takes a lot of effort, but you find thats what stops other people doing it.
I've operated 4,6 & 8 seaters since 99. There are a max 4 or 5 other 16 seat minibuses within 10 miles of our base so we end up turning work away at weekends. My only regret is that I didn't do it 10 years ago!
New regs mean you need to take 46 hrs rest after 6 days work, so if you working mon to fri on a school run you can't work every weekend.
You can take a reduced weekly rest but any shortfall needs to be recovered within roughly 3 weeks.
If you can get min 2 drivers to drive it - go for it. Its a bit daunting at first and the authorities won't be much help.
PM me if you need any more info

I've just realised I've not posted on this forum for a while! Its amazing what Gooogle brings up when your searching for something else

driver cpc is 35 hrs not 25
if you dont complete the first 35 hours by 2013 then you cant drive a psv untill you do. you cant cheet the system as you have a number and a card to show you have completed it.

then you have taco rules and you also need a cpc (as well as driver)and a vehicle licence (as well as a tax disk)
vehicle check every 6-8 weeks at a cost of around £180 not £50 as stated.
you also need to show a bank statment of £3500 per vehicle (can be overdraft letter,etc). if you do anything wrong then you have a large fine and sometimes vosa will cancel your vehicle disk untill they happy ( which means you cant use it on the road).
if you get a gv9 then you have to have a new mot. mot is done by vosa not your local mot garage. not cheep.

tacos need to be kept by the driver for 28 days and then handed into the office for safe keeping for 12 months. vosa can call upon any disk within the 12 months window.
if your vehicle as a digital taco then you need a card reader and software, company card (cant use it for driving) taco card(again not for driving) and a card for each driver.

i hope this helps

Daz

I think you are giving figures for coaches and busses on a national license not minibuses on a restricted license. My minibuses cost £50 for the 10 week inspection and it takes around 1 1/2 hours each time. You also do not need a transport manager with a CPC for a restricted license.

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Grandad,

I gave up running a Minibus because all the new rules and regulations including CPC's, Tachos, Driver hours and Regular Checks turned the Job from modestly profitable into almost a charity.........it just was not worth it unless the vehicle was being used on a sizable Council contract. I downsized it to an 8 seater which attracts as much work but without all the Government Sh*te regulations...and you can drive it on a car licence.

With Hindsight I should just have removed 8 seats from the Minibus and used that as an 8 seater rather as by a new 8 seater as I did..Doh!

it always used be the driver must have the last 7 working days charts at least and charts must be handed in after 30 days

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

and isnt the new digital tacho card £45?

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

yes, now you have to carry the LAST 28 days. digi card holds 28 days then the information is written over, offence if not down loaded. digi card needs to be down loaded even if not used

daz