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Bus
and Coach Operator Licencing Fees
Information for Bus
and Coach Operatiors on the latest fees, regulations that need to pay and apply
for during the registration process.
Vehicles outside Operator Licence Requirements
How will I know if my vehicle is exempt?
An outline explanation of each exemption from the Operator licensing scheme has
been provided underneath selected definitions below, where clarification is often
required. Most goods vehicles with a gross plated weight of over 3.5 tonnes or,
if there is no plated weight, an unladen weight of over 1525 kg require a goods
vehicle operator’s licence, if they are used to carry goods or burden of any description
in connection with a trade or business, or for hire or reward. The requirement
also applies to vehicles used for infrequent periods - such as one day. If the
relevant exemption(s) explained here are not applicable to you, then it is likely
you will need an Operators licence - you are advised to contact the Enquiry Number
(0300 123 9000) and request a starter pack so that you may apply for one.
Please note - We are unable to give legal advice and it should be noted that the
information given below does not constitute legal opinion. The Vehicle and Operator
Services Agency (VOSA) is NOT able to provide letters or certificates of exemption
from goods vehicle operator’s licensing. The use of a particular vehicle is either
exempt under the Regulations or it is not; and the decision on whether or not
a licence is required is ultimately for the courts to decide. If, on reading the
information outlined below, you are still unsure you should contact the Enquiry
Unit on 0300 123 9000 and in certain cases, you may wish to consider engaging
your own private legal advice before proceeding further.
Exemption legislation
Most of the exemptions are outlined below in a simplified summary format. For
definitive information you should consult Schedule 3 to the Goods Vehicles (Licensing
of Operators) Regulations 1995 (S/I number 1995/2869).
The Goods Vehicles (Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995
Exemptions under current regulations
The exemptions under current Regulations are as follows: -
• Vehicles first used before 1977 which have an unladen weight not exceeding
1525kg and for which the maximum gross plated weight is between 3500kgs and 3556.21kgs
(3.5 tons);
• Motor vehicles & their trailers using public roads for less than 9.654kms
(6 miles) a week, whilst moving between private premises;
• Vehicles being used under a trade licence - NB:This is a vehicle being
used on trade plates. Please note: vehicles on trade plates should only be kept
in the vehicle dealer’s "temporary" possession when used in this way. In England,
Scotland and Wales, we go by the DVLA’s guidance for this - which is a period
of three months. In our view, if the vehicle is kept in possession for longer
than this it should be both registered and used on an operator’s licence.
• Vehicles constructed, or adapted, primarily for carrying passengers & their
effects while being used for that purpose, and any trailer drawn;
• Vehicles used by, or under the control of, Her Majesty’s United Kingdom
forces and visiting forces vehicles;
• Vehicles being used by local authorities for Civil Defence purposes, or
to carry out their functions in respect of certain enactments;
• Vehicles being used for police, fire or ambulance purposes;
• Fire-fighting & rescue vehicles used in mines;
• RNLI & Coastguard vehicles when used for transporting lifeboats, appliances
or crew;
• Vehicles being held ready for use in emergencies by water, electricity,
gas & telephone undertakings;
• Tractors, including agricultural tractors, used in certain circumstances
- NB: This exemption applies to any tractor as defined in paragraph 4(3) of Part
IV of Schedule 1 Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 while being used for
one or more of the purposes in Part II of Schedule 3 to the 1995 Regulations (see
link above). Part II of the Schedule goes on to outline these uses (see below);
In our view, all uses other than those outlined below, would require an operator’s
licence.
“1. Hauling;
(a) threshing appliances,
(b) farming implements.
2. Hauling articles for a farm required by the keeper, being either the occupier
of the farm or a contractor employed to do agricultural work on the farm by the
occupier of the farm.
3. Hauling articles for a forestry estate required by the keeper where the keeper
is the occupier of that estate or employed to do forestry work on the estate by
the occupier or a contractor employed to do forestry work on the estate by the
occupier.
4. Hauling within 24.135 kilometres (15 miles), of a farm or forestry estate occupied
by the keeper, agricultural or woodland produce of the farm or estate.
5. Hauling within 24.125 kilometres, (15 miles), of a farm or a forrestry estate
occupied by the keeper material to be spread on roads to deal with frost, ice
or snow.
7. Hauling.
(a) soil for landscaping or similar works.”
• Vehicles being used to carry goods within aerodromes;
• Vehicles being used for funerals;
• Uncompleted vehicles on test or trial;
• “A vehicle which is being used for snow clearing, or for the distribution
of grit, salt or other materials on frosted, icebound or snow covered roads or
for going to or from the place where it is to be used for the said purposes or
for any other purpose directly connected with those purposes”. This is how this
type of vehicle is identified in the Regulations. If this is applicable to the
intended use of the vehicle, (and it will be used for that and no other purpose),
the exemption should apply.
• Vehicles on their way to a Department of Transport examination being presented
laden at the request of an examiner;
• Electric and steam propelled vehicles; (“Electrically propelled vehicle”
is described in the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 as “a vehicle is
not an electrically propelled vehicle unless the electrical motive power is derived
from:
(a) a source external to the vehicle, or
(b) an electrical storage battery which is not connected to any source of power
when the vehicle is in motion”.
Therefore, some “diesel - electric” vehicles are not likely to fit the exemption
and may require an operator’s licence).
• Recovery vehicles. Paragraph 3 of the Good Vehicles (Licensing of Operators)
Regulations 1995 states that a recovery vehicle has the same meaning as in Part
V of Schedule 1 to the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994 (i.e a vehicle
which is constructed or permanently adapted for any one or more of the purposes
of lifting, towing and transporting a disabled vehicle). Therefore, if the vehicle
is not going to be used exclusively for recovering disabled vehicles from the
roadside, an operator’s licence will be required. (Please note: as it is likely
that vehicles will be transported for a third party, if a licence is required,
you would be advised to hold at least a standard national licence).
• “A vehicle fitted with a machine, appliance, apparatus or other contrivance
which is a permanent or essentially permanent fixture, provided that the only
goods carried on the vehicle are:
(a) required for use in connection with the machine, appliance, apparatus or contrivance
or the running of the vehicle;”
(b) to be mixed by the machine, appliance, apparatus or contrivance with other
goods not carried on the vehicle on a road in order to thrash, grade, clean or
chemically treat grain;
(c) to be mixed by the machine, appliance, apparatus or contrivance with other
goods not carried on the vehicle in order to make fodder for animals; or mud or
other matter swept up from the surface of a road by the use of the machine, appliance,
apparatus or other contrivance”.
PLEASE NOTE: The “fixed equipment” exemption relates to vehicles that have
equipment that is a permanent or essentially permanent fixture (e.g. a winch or
generator) where any other goods carried must be strictly for use in connection
with that fixed equipment (e.g. essential tools or equipment, without which that
fixture would be unable to function). IMPORTANT: Under current legislation mobile
exhibition vehicles, catering vehicles, vehicles with an auger fitted for laying
telegraph poles (where the poles are carried on the vehicle), mobile shops and
mobile medical screening vehicles are NOT exempt from operator licensing (if they
are over 3.5 tonnes gross plated weight), nor are vehicles that do have fixed
equipment - but carry goods or burden that is not strictly for use in connection
with that equipment, or tow a trailer that is carrying goods or burden. Examples
of types of vehicles that may be exempt under the above are *gully sucking vehicles,
vehicles with water jetting / shot blasting equipment, cherry pickers (these may
also be classed as “tower wagons” (see below)) and road sweepers.
• Tower wagons* & trailers which are carrying goods related to the work of
the tower wagons;
• Dual purpose vehicles (eg Land Rovers) & their trailers. Includes Range
Rovers, Jeeps, certain Japanese vehicles and those designed to go over rough ground
as well as on roads. NOTE: All dual purpose vehicles must not exceed 2040 kg in
unladen weight.
• Trailers whose primary purpose is not to carry goods but do so incidentally
in connection with construction, maintenance or repair of roads;
• Road rollers & trailers;
• Showman’s goods vehicles & trailers. Showman’s goods vehicles are exempt
from operator’s licensing, if they are classed as showman’s goods vehicles for
the purposes of paying vehicle excise duty. This is because the exemption from
the operator’s licensing system is linked by para 3(2) to part 1 to Goods Vehicles
(Licensing of Operators) Regulations 1995, to the definition of showman’s goods
vehicle in Section 62 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994. This is
defined as a goods vehicle that is permanently fitted with a living van or some
other special type of body or superstructure, forming part of the equipment of
the show of the person whose name is registered under the 1994 Act. It must also
be a vehicle registered under the 1994 Act, in the name of the person following
the business of a travelling showman and where he is the sole user of the vehicle,
for the purposes of his business and for no other purpose.
• Crown vehicles;
• Vehicles being used for international haulage by operators established
in other EU Member States;
• Vehicles being used for international haulage by operators established
in Northern Ireland; and,
• Vehicles being used under the provisions of the Goods Vehicles (Operators
Licences) (Temporary Use in Great Britain) Regulations 1980. These Regulations
include provision for the use in Great Britain of Northern Ireland Vehicles, which
have an operating centre in Northern Ireland, provided that certain conditions
are met. Own account and hire and reward operations are covered.
*It is also worth knowing that, when towing a trailer behind a vehicle that
is around - or slightly below - 3.5 tonnes gross plated weight (e.g Ford Transit/Mercedes
Sprinter sized vehicles), if the combined gross plated weights of drawing vehicle
and trailer do not exceed 3.5 tonnes or (where there is no gross plated weight)
the total unladen weights do not exceed 1,525 kgs, an operators licence will not
be required. Please note that any trailer with an unladen weight of less than
1,020 KGs, need not be taken in to account in this calculation.
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