Stretch limousine licensing - a reminder

East Riding of Yorkshire Council has issued a timely reminder (in anticipation of senior school ‘prom’ season!!) to its local schools that parents and head teachers need to check that stretch limousines are appropriately licensed. Clearly stretch limousines are the thing in this neck of the woods!

The licensing system relating to stretch limousines (and other such vehicles) was introduced to ensure passenger safety and entails appropriate assessments of the driver (such as a competence assessment and criminal records check) as well as an examination of the vehicle in question.

In brief, limousines must be run by a licensed operator unless they are hired out without a driver.

Small limousines (seating up to 8 passengers) require a private hire vehicle (PHV) operator licence (administered in England and Wales by Local Authorities and Transport for London depending on your location) and must be booked via a licensed PH Operator and be driven by a licensed PH driver.

Interestingly, an exemption applies whilst limousines are being used in connection with a funeral or a wedding.

Large limousines (seating 9 or more passengers) require a public sector vehicle (PSV) operator licence (administered by the traffic commissioner).

Stretch limousines must also have an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) to be licensed unless built before 29 July 2011 when a Certificate of Fitness should be sufficient.

The vehicle and Operator Services Agency has issued guidance for stretch limousine operators, which can be found here:

Guidance for operators of stretch limousines

For those that wish to hire a stretch limousine, therefore, it is always worth checking with the booking agent if the limousine is properly licensed and with whom.