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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 .

are licensed by Transport for London (TfL).

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.

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.

You must also tell the Traffic Commissioner if your circumstances change.

Fees

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.

Paying by post

Send a cheque or postal order made payable to ‘DVSA’ to the Central Licensing Office.

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.

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.

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 (England and Wales) or the (Scotland).

You must have permission from the Upper Tribunal, or if the Upper Tribunal refuses, from the Court.

Download detailed guidance about appealing an Upper Tribunal decision.