PSV and Permit Vehicle Drivers

Introduction
PSV and Permit drivers have specific requirements placed upon them regarding their license category, the type of operation that is applicable to their employment and the hours rules applicable specific to their driving activity, the following gives tabled format of these requirements.
Additional information regarding licenses and drivers hours rules can be found within this site in more detail.

Driving Licence Requirements for PSV's
Drivers Hours Records - Journey Type
Domestic Rules for Passenger Vehicles

Driving Licence Requirements for PSV's
For the various types of buses and seating capacity of the same, the following table indicates the legislation regulation and license type which is applicable in each case.

Vehicle Type or Volunteer Drivers	Legislative Regulation	License Applicable
Small Bus 9 to 16 passenger seats - Permit Vehicle	Section 19 Transport Act 1985	Cat D1 not for hire or reward or Cat B if voluntary driver
Large Bus 17 or more passenger seats - Permit Vehicle	Section 19 Transport Act 1985	Cat D or Cat D not for hire or reward
Community Bus 9 to 16 passenger seats - Permit Vehicle	Section 22 Transport Act 1985	Cat D or D1 or, if not used for hire or reward, Cat D1 not for hire or reward or Cat B if voluntary driver and not used for hire or reward
8 or less passenger seats 9 to 16 passenger seats 17 or more passenger seats	PSV Licensing Regulations	Cat B Cat D or Cat D limited to 5.5 metres length or Cat D1 Cat D or Cat D limited to 5.5 metres length
Voluntary Drivers	Regulation 7(6) Motor Vehicles (Driving Licences) Regulations 1999	Holds Full Cat B licence for at least 2 years Aged 21 or over if; - aged 70 or over not suffering from a relevant disability which would cause a group 2 licence to be refused; - unpaid except for out of pocket expenses; - may drive for non-commercial body for social purposes but not hire or reward; - no trailer, Max 3500kg (4250kg if fitted with specialised equipment for disabled).

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Drivers Hours Records - Journey Type
The following table concerns the journey types of specific vehicle types as dictated by their seating capacity and indicates the rules that are applicable in each case.

Passenger Seats	Vehicle Use	Drivers hours and records	GB Domestic hours/records (During Employment)
0 - 8	All journeys	Domestic Rules	Exempt
9 - 16	National journeys only	Domestic Rules if used exclusively for the non-commercial carriage of passengers otherwise EC Rules	If exempt from EEC rules PSVs over 8 passenger seats and Non-PSVs over 12 passengers seats:- must comply with domestic hours requirements, but no records are required to be kept. Exempt if driver drives for less than 4 hours each day for the whole week.
Over 9 seats	Regular Scheduled Service route not exceeding 50km	Domestic Rules
Regular Scheduled Service over 50km	EC Rules	EC Rules
Irregular services	EC Rules	EC Rules

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Domestic Rules for Passenger Vehicles
The following table gives an overview of a PSV drivers activity with regard to Daily Driving, Duty Time and rest. Further information can be found within the EC hours rules which caters for all rules in more detail.

Driver Activity	Time Period	Information
Continuous or accumulated Duty	After 5h 30m or within any period of 8h 30m	After 5.5 hours of driving a break of at least 30 minutes must be taken in which the driver is able to obtain rest and refreshment. Alternatively, within any period of 8.5 hours in the working day, total breaks amounting to at least 45 minutes are taken so that the driver does not drive for more than 7 hours and 45 minutes. The driver must in addition have a break of at least 30 minutes to obtain rest or refreshment at the end of this period, unless it is the end of the working day.
Daily Driving	10 hours	Except whilst dealing with emergencies.
Daily Duty	up to 16 hours
Daily Rest	10hrs	Drivers of passenger vehicles may reduce this daily rest period to 8 1/2 hrs three times a week.
Fortnightly Rest	24hrs	Unless a driver only drives for less than 4 hours each day.
Driver Records	Exempt - whilst exclusively or mainly driving passenger vehicles.

Drivers of Passenger vehicles are also exempt from the requirements of Weekly Duty limits - SI 818/1971 Drivers' Hours (Passenger and Goods Vehicles)(Modifications) Order 1971.

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