Private Hire Vehicle - Definition

Private Hire Vehicle redefinition

Background

The Private hire vehicles (London) Act 1998 defined private hire vehicle (PHV) as:

• A vehicle constructed or adapted to seat fewer than nine passengers which is made available with a driver to the public for the purpose of carrying passengers, other than a licensed taxi or public service vehicle

A number of companies who provided vehicles to dedicated groups or organisations, usually on a contract basis, claimed exemption since their vehicles were not available `to the public`.

Redefinition

The Road Safety Act 2006 has now removed the term `to the public` from the definition in the 1998 Act.

This means that any vehicles that seat fewer than nine passengers and are made available with a driver for hire for the purpose of carrying passengers require a licence.

All currently licensed PHV operators have been made aware of the redefinition.

If you believe that the business you are running will now require licensing you should contact the Operator Licensing section at the Public Carriage Office as soon as possible.

Timetable

The exact timetable for the implementing the redefinition has yet to be determined but it will be 31 March 2008 at the very latest. We will provide further details of the licensing arrangements in due course.

Once the redefinition is implemented it will only be possible for contract services to be undertaken by licensed drivers in licensed vehicles through licensed operators.