Restricted coach op licence help?

Question

my family have a restricted coach op licence so we can run 2x minibuses over 9 seats, how many can i run with 8 seats?? we have 5 at monment 2 of them are 16 seaters the other 3 are 8 seaters can we buy more?? and do we have to tell vosa? regards graham

Answer 1

I am amazed that the holder of an Operators Licence has to ask these questions and it brings into question the competence of the nominated Transport Manager. If someone from VOSA ever gained your identity from this question, you could be in serious trouble

I hold a CPC for both Passenger International AND Haulage International operations.

On the Passenger side, you must declare the number of each type of vehicle to be used on your Operators Licence. If you intend to operate a greater number of vehicles than you have Operator's Discs, then you need to increase the authorisation on your Operators Licence. The grant of the increase is not automatic; indeed you might need to plea your case before the Traffic Commissioner for the Traffic Area in which you hold the Operators Licence. Remember that the cost of your Operators Licence will go up if you increase the authorisation. Moreoover, the amount of usable capital will also be greater.

You can buy as many Passenger vehicles as you like - you just cannot use them. (Which is a fundemental difference from the Haulage Operators Licence).

Speak with VOSA or your local testing station ASAP.