Section 22 permits
Section 22 permits are issued to organisations concerned for the social and welfare needs of one or more communities who operate vehicles without a view to profit to provide a community bus service.
Unlike section 19 permit vehicles, community bus services are 'local bus services' and can carry the general public. Local bus services are defined as services using public service vehicles for the carriage of passengers by road at separate fares on which passengers may travel for less than 15 miles.
Organisations that are registered as charities usually qualify. However, a business which makes, or seeks to make, a profit would not normally qualify regardless of how it uses any profits or income surplus.
These permits can only be issued by traffic commissioners. Therefore, those who apply for a section 22 permit must satisfy the traffic commissioner that the transport services are not run with a view to profit nor incidentally to an activity which is itself carried on with a view to profit.
Once a section 22 permit has been granted a second application must be made to the traffic commissioner to register a local bus service. (There is a different system for local services with stopping places in London) Before the community bus service can be operated, route and timetable details will need to supplied to the traffic commissioner at least 28 days before the start of the service.
If you cease to operate local bus services you cannot continue to use the vehicle under the permit to provide other services. If you do, you may be in breach of the PSV operator licensing requirements.
Still unsure?
If you are still unsure as to which licensing regime applies to you, please see: Are you operating a minibus within the law?
Operator licensing Reference Guide
- Operator licensing
- What is Hire & Reward?
- What is the legal definition of a minibus?
- What is a Public Service Vehicle (PSV)?
- Minibus operations and road safety policy
- Limosines & operator licensing
- Who can legally drive our minibus?
- Drivers Hours
- Tachographs
- Traffic Commissioners
- VOSA (Vehicle & Operator Services Agency)
- How do we keep our minibus in a safe and roadworthy condition?
- What is corporate manslaughter?
- Where can I find legal advice from a specialised transport solicitor?
- Minibus Support Advice helpline
