Re: Requirements for paid driving work
Posted: Sun Sep 04, 2016 8:45 am
hir wrote:Horse wrote:akirk wrote:I presume that a company's employee driving a customer doesn't come under private hire, it may depend on how you structure the relationship with the restaurants...
Alasdair
Years ago, landlord of a local bought a minibus to take 'tired' customers home. Service ended abruptly when he was told he needed additional licencing beyond a publican's.
Horse is right...
OP you must get some official advice, don't rely on anything said on here. Get confirmation of what you believe, or are told on here, from the authorities who will prosecute you and invalidate your insurance if you get it wrong!
Yes, this is a complete nightmare to get one's head around. You need to talk to the service provider, the local authority, the DVLA, etc, etc etc. For example, when the D1 driving licence conditions refer to "hire or reward" they're not referring to a reward for the driver, ie. payment to reward the driver for his services. They're referring to payment by the passengers to the bus owner, who may, or may not, be the driver. It's the payment by the passengers to the bus operator that causes the problem for the driver. Unless, of course, the bus owner is operating under Section 19 or Section 22 of the Transport Act 1985 where organisations that provide transport on a ‘not-for-profit’ basis can apply for permits under those sections. These permits allow the holder to operate transport services for hire or reward without the need for a full public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence... and the driver can drive the bus on a D1 licence rather than a PSV licence... As I said before it's a legal, licensing and insurance nightmare. Be absolutely certain that what you are doing is permissible by the authorities... don't take any notice of the hotelier who says... " It's OK, everyone does it round here. We've been doing it for years without any problems. You might just end up being the first "problem" and you can bet the hotelier won't be anywhere to be seen.
D1 grandfather rights apply only to licences issued prior to 1 January 1997. When a D1 licence is renewed at age 70 the licence holder must apply to the DVLA in writing, with both eyesight and medical examination reports. D1 licences cannot be renewed online at age 70.
Thanks. Yes there have been suggestions that "I'll be fine", but im a beltnbraces kind of guy and I take insurance, my liberty, and ultimately others lives very seriously. This was merely the starting point ..