UK Act of Parliament
1981
United Kingdom
Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
1 practical guide
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesWhat this Act requires
Sections that create concrete duties on businesses or carry penalties. Procedural and definitional sections are folded into the “Browse other sections” expander at the bottom of each group. Click any section title to read the source text on legislation.gov.uk.
Schedules
Browse 74 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
The making of the agreement for the payment of separate...
(1) The journey must be made without previous advertisement to...
Public Service Vehicles: Conditions Affecting Status or Classification
Public Service Vehicles: Conditions Affecting Status or Classification
Arrangements for the bringing together of all the passengers for...
The journey must be made without previous advertisement to the...
All passengers must, in the case of a journey to...
No differentiation of fares for the journey on the basis...
For the purposes of paragraphs 2 and 6 above no...
The Secretary of State may remove a traffic commissioner from...
If a traffic commissioner acquires a financial interest in a...
(1) The Secretary of State may appoint such number of...
Paragraphs 3 to 5 below have effect in relation to...
In the case of illness, incapacity or absence of a...
If the Secretary of State considers that the duties to...
A person appointed under paragraph 4 above shall be appointed...
(1) Where the office of any traffic commissioner for England...
(1) Where the office of traffic commissioner for any traffic...
Subject to the approval of the Treasury, the Secretary of...
(1) There shall be paid to a traffic commissioner and...
The principal civil service pension scheme (within the meaning of...
(1) In this Schedule— “ authorised person ” means— an...
(1) Regulations must make provision— (a) enabling a traffic commissioner...
Regulations must provide that— (a) if a traffic commissioner determines...
(1) Regulations must provide for an appeal to the Upper...
Regulations may provide that, if no application is made to...
(1) Regulations may provide that the nominated custodian may retain...
(1) Regulations must provide that while any property is in...
(1) Regulations must provide for the proceeds of sale of...
(1) Regulations may make provision about the proceedings to be...
Regulations may provide that a person who intentionally obstructs an...
(1) Regulations may provide that a person is guilty of...
(1) Regulations may provide that where an authorised person has...
(1) Regulations may, in connection with the detaining of a...
(1) Regulations may provide that, before a vehicle is removed...
(1) Regulations may provide that a person—
(1) Regulations may make provision for an authorised person to...
(1) This paragraph applies in relation to any property—
Regulations may make provision authorising a vehicle detained by virtue...
(1) Regulations must make provision enabling the owner of a...
(1) In determining whether an individual is of good repute,...
Supplementary Provision as to Qualifications for Operator’s Licence
(1) Being of appropriate financial standing in relation to an...
References in Part II of this Act to professional competence...
Where an individual is not himself professionally competent, the requirement...
Supplementary Provision as to Qualifications for Operator’s Licence
(1) ... an individual shall be regarded as professionally competent...
(1) In paragraph 6 above— (a) “approved body” means—
(1) A traffic commissioner must not in any proceedings under...
(1) In proceedings under this Act or the 2009 Regulation...
(1) A traffic commissioner may, subject to sub-paragraph (2), at...
Supplementary Provision as to Qualifications for Operator’s Licence
Supplementary Provision as to Qualifications for Operator’s Licence
Where a period of time specified in an enactment repealed...
Where any provision of the Transport Act 1980 which is...
A certificate of fitness issued in respect of a vehicle...
For the purposes of subsection (1) of section 6 of...
In section 4(4) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...
In section 159(1) of that Act— (a) in the definition...
In section 23 of the Transport (London) Act 1969—
Consequential Amendments
In section 4(2)(b) of the Road Traffic (Foreign Vehicles) Act...
In section 7(1) of that Act— (a) . . ....
In Schedule 1 to that Act for the words “Section...
In section 63(3)(b) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act...
In section 7(1) of the Local Government (Omnibus Shelters and...
In section 80(1) of that Act, in the definition of...
In paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 to the Energy Act...
In paragraph 2 of Schedule 1 to that Act for...
In section 1(2)(a) of the Transport Act 1978 for the...
Consequential Amendments
In section 92 of the Finance Act 1965, in the...
Consequential Amendments
Consequential Amendments
Browse 92 other sections — procedural / definitional / commencement
Definition of “public service vehicle”.
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Traffic areas.
Traffic commissioners.
Appointment of senior traffic commissioner
Power of senior traffic commissioner to deploy other commissioners
Power of senior traffic commissioner to give guidance and directions
Guidance to senior traffic commissioner by Secretary of State
Publication of information by traffic commissioners.
Certificate of initial fitness (or equivalent) required for use as public service vehicles.
Certifying officers and public service vehicle examiners.
Powers of, and facilities for, inspection of public service vehicles.
Power to prohibit driving of unfit public service vehicles.
Extension of sections 8 and 9 to certain passenger vehicles other than public service vehicles.
Approval of type vehicle and effect thereof.
Modification of section 6 in relation to experimental vehicles.
s.12
Detention of certain PSVs used without PSV operators' licences
Power to stop
Classification of licences.
Grant of licences
Objections to application for PSV operator’s licence.
Requirements for standard licences
Requirements for restricted licences
Requirements for standard and restricted licences
Duration of licences.
Conditions attached to licences.
Conditions as to matters required to be notified.
Revocation, suspension
Assessors to assist traffic commissioners.
Duty to exhibit operator’s disc.
Duty to inform traffic commissioners of relevant convictions etc.
Duty to give traffic commissioners information about vehicles.
Certificates of qualification.
Drivers’ licences.
Appeals to courts of summary jurisdiction in connection with driver’s licences.
Northern Ireland drivers’ licences.
Regulation of conduct of drivers, inspectors and conductors.
Regulation of conduct of passengers.
Control of number of passengers.
Returns to be provided by persons operating public service vehicles.
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Avoidance of contracts so far as restrictive of liability in respect of death of or injury to passengers in public service vehicles.
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Fare-paying passengers on school buses.
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Review of decisions.
Appeals to the Upper Tribunal
Appeals to the Secretary of State.
Fees for grant of licences etc.
Payment of expenses.
Inquiries held by traffic commissioners.
Annual report of traffic commissioners and metropolitan police commissioner.
Records of licences.
Correction of errors
Death, bankruptcy etc. of licence holder.
Partnerships and related matters.
Power to make regulations as to procedure on applications for licences.
General power to make regulations for purposes of Act.
Exercise of regulation making powers and parliamentary control thereof.
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Exclusion of certain enactments as respects Metropolitan Traffic Area.
Forgery and misuse of documents etc.
False statements to obtain licence etc.
Issue of false documents.
Penalty for breach of regulations.
Defences available to persons charged with certain offences.
Restriction on institution in England and Wales of proceedings under Part II or III.
Duty to give information as to identity of driver in certain cases.
Evidence by certificate.
Proof in summary proceedings of identity of driver of vehicle.
Time within which summary proceedings for certain offences may be commenced.
Offences by companies.
Destination of fines.
General power to hold inquiries.
General provisions as to inquiries.
Power of Minister to modify or revoke restrictions in local Acts.
Vehicles excluded from regulation as private hire vehicles.
Small PSVs subject to regulation as private hire vehicles.
Construction of references to traffic areas.
Interpretation of references to the operator of a vehicle or service.
General interpretation provisions.
Construction of references in other Acts etc. to public service vehicles, licensing authorities etc.
Protection of public interests.
Saving for law of nuisance.
Saving for sections 16 and 17 of the Interpretation Act 1978.
Power of Secretary of State to repeal section 10 of this Act.
Transitional provisions, consequential amendments and repeals.
Short title, commencement and extent.
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Bus and coach accessibility (PSVAR) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Register a local bus service (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
- Apply for a PSV operator licence (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab) Detailed Guidance
Enforcement and responsible bodies
The regulators that administer or enforce this legislation.
DVSA
PrimaryDriver and Vehicle Standards Agency
Regulates drivers, vehicles, and operators in UK road transport. Issues operator licences for goods vehicles (HGVs) and PSVs. Enforces roadworthiness and driver …
Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain
Independent regulators responsible for licensing and regulating operators of heavy goods vehicles, public service vehicles (buses and coaches), and local bus services. …
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Regulators
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