UK Act of Parliament
1981
United Kingdom
Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981
At a glance
Enforced by
What's here
11 compliance obligations, 1 practical guide
Penalty landscape
2 of 11 obligations carry a fine up to £1,000. 1 carries different penalties and 8 have no criminal penalty — flagged in the list below.
Who this Act binds
Business-side actors with duties under this Act, ranked by how often they appear.
- Any Person 5
- Trader 1
- Landlord 1
Plus 4 non-business duties on Crown ministers, regulators, local authorities or tribunals — shown collapsed under each section below.
Relevant guidance
Practical guides for businesses affected by this Act, ordered by how closely they engage with it.
Supporting — topic alignment
1 guidesOther Acts binding the same actors
For each actor bound by this Act, the other UK Acts that bind them most often. Useful for understanding the full compliance landscape facing each role.
Any Person also bound by 2338 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Human Medicines Regulations 2012 2012 169 duties
- Merchant Shipping Act 1995 1995 144 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 101 duties
- Road Traffic Act 1988 1988 95 duties
- Air Navigation Order 2016 2016 95 duties
Traders also bound by 826 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Value Added Tax Regulations 1995 1995 413 duties
- Companies Act 2006 2006 243 duties
- The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 2008 114 duties
- Insolvency (England and Wales) Rules 2016 2016 62 duties
- Building Societies Act 1986 1986 56 duties
Landlords also bound by 216 other Acts (top 5 shown)
- Renting Homes (Wales) Act 2016 2016 74 duties
- Housing Act 1985 1985 53 duties
- Housing Act 1996 1996 30 duties
- The Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (England) Regulations 2003 2003 27 duties
- The Service Charges (Consultation Requirements) (Wales) Regulations 2004 2004 26 duties
What 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.
Part I — Preliminary
Browse 9 other sections in this Part — 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.
Part 2A — Safeguarding duty: drivers of school services
Browse 3 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Duty to check barring information
Application of section 29A duty: services in Wales
Interpretation of Part 2A
Part II — General Provisions Relating to Public Service Vehicles
Browse 34 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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.
PSV operators’ licences.
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.
Part III
Browse 1 other section in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part IV
Browse 5 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
Part V — Miscellaneous and Supplementary
Browse 43 other sections in this Part — procedural / definitional / commencement
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.
Schedules
The making of the agreement for the payment of separate...
- Do not initiate separate-fare agreements if you are the driver, owner, or booking agent Landlord
Regulations must provide that— (a) if a traffic commissioner determines...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic Commissioner must order vehicle return if grounds met Tribunal / Court
(1) Regulations must provide for an appeal to the Upper...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulations must provide appeal right to Upper Tribunal against traffic commissioner decisions Crown / Minister / Government department
(1) Regulations must provide that while any property is in...
- Take steps to keep property safe while in custody Any Person
(1) Regulations must provide for the proceeds of sale of...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Regulations must specify how proceeds of property sales are used and allow claims by former owners Crown / Minister / Government department
Regulations may provide that a person who intentionally obstructs an...
Fine up to £1,000- Intentionally obstruct an authorised person Any Person
(1) Regulations may provide that a person is guilty of...
Unlimited fine- Make a false declaration to secure return of a vehicle Any Person
(1) Regulations may provide that, before a vehicle is removed...
- Do not remove or tamper with immobilisation devices or notices on detained vehicles Any Person
(1) Regulations may provide that a person—
Fine up to £1,000- Remove or tamper with an immobilisation device without authorisation Any Person
(1) ... an individual shall be regarded as professionally competent...
- Meet professional competence requirements for PSV operator licence Trader
(1) A traffic commissioner must not in any proceedings under...
Other duties (1) — Crown / regulator
- Traffic Commissioner must give notice and consider representations before adverse finding against transport manager Statutory regulator
Browse 63 other Schedules — structural / supplementary
(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 may provide that, if no application is made to...
(1) Regulations may provide that the nominated custodian may retain...
(1) Regulations may make provision about the proceedings to be...
(1) Regulations may provide that where an authorised person has...
(1) Regulations may, in connection with the detaining of a...
(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) In paragraph 6 above— (a) “approved body” means—
(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
Official guidance
Authoritative sources published by regulators or government explaining this legislation.
- Traffic commissioners: public service vehicle operations (opens in a new tab) from Traffic Commissioners Detailed Guidance
- Public service vehicle operator licensing guide (opens in a new tab) from Traffic Commissioners Detailed Guidance
- Traffic commissioners: transport managers (opens in a new tab) from Traffic Commissioners Detailed Guidance
- 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) from DVSA 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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