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Vehicle Licensing Number Plates Limousine Hire Licence! Display of Registration Marks Legislation |
Vehicle Licensing Number Plates From 1 January 2003, all number plate suppliers in England and Wales will be required by law to register their details with DVLA. From that date, a business will be unable to trade as a supplier unless it is registered. In future, if you wish to replace a damaged plate, or change to an early legal classic design, you will have to provide to a registered supplier, one of the following acceptable documents for verification of personal details: (1) A current photocard driving licence (preferred); (2) bank/building society statement or a recent utility bill together with one of the following:- Current paper driving licence; passport credit/debit card with photograph; travel pass card with photograph; Foreign National identity card. For a list of registered suppliers, go to DVLA website: www.dvla.gov.uk/vehicles/rnps.htm  Limousine Hire Licence! Under the new regulations, you are only able to use a limousine (carrying a maximum of eight passengers) for weddings and funerals without having to apply for the "Special Occasion" licence from your local authority or a PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle) licence from the DTLR local area traffic office. Private Hire: This licence is available from your local authority and will be virtually the same as that for a Eurobox taxi (not Hackney) therefore your vehicle will have to undergo the same six-monthly road-worthy test. The rules and licence fee varies from council to council, but expect to pay between £200-300 annually. PCV (Passenger Carrying Vehicle): We have been informed this is the better option. Licences are granted by the DETR local area traffic office, and continue in force for five years. A PCV licence, which in old terms is the PSV (Public Service Vehicle) rule covering buses and minibuses. A part-time operator can operate two American stretch limousines on a restricted PCV licence (orange badge). Larger operators need a national licence (blue badge). This allows you to operate under category ‘A’ vehicles, with an eight-seat limit, also the driver does not need a licence and there are requirements on financial status, proper inspections and maintenance agreements. Don’t forget, you will also have to take out Hire and Reward insurance, which I have been informed can set you back £1,500-2,000. Information is at present thin on the ground, but it would seem that the same regulations can and will apply to anyone using their classic American car for hire purposes other than weddings. We have been "warned" by local government that they will be thoroughly investigating all potential operators and will be collecting business cards, answering advertisements and so on. Sadly it would seem that although the information is scarce, ignorance will be no defence for non-compliance, and the onus is on the operator to chase the info to insure legality. If this may affect you, contact Rupert Cope at the Department of Transport Local Government and the Regions (DTLR - Tel: 0207 944 3000) to request clarification or the licensing department at your local authority. You can also contact Bill Bowling, The National Limousine Association UK, Wishbone Garage, Calverley Green Road, Altofts, West Yorkshire WF6 2JS. Tel: 01924 223722 Display of Registration Marks Legislation In essence, the UK authorities have recently notified the European Commission of changes to the new number plate regulations. They have made an addition to regulation 14.3, including Left-Hand Drive vehicles in the class of exemptions allowed to use a smaller plate and font size. The exemption is conditional on there being an "indent" in the vehicle body work not capable of displaying a full size UK number plate. The precise definition is being carefully scrutinised by the AIAA from a legal and technical viewpoint to ensure there are no potential pitfalls for Left-Hand drive American vehicle owners. This change to legislation represents an overturning of a thirty-year-old law which has always discriminated against our vehicles and made them potentially illegal in the eyes of the police and DVLA. Providing these changes are enacted in a fair and reasonable manner, we will no longer be haunted by the spectre of being prosecuted for an unavoidable violation of road traffic regulations. It should be remembered that, had these regulations been enacted on 1st September - unaltered, then it would no longer have been possible to obtain 6" x 12" number plates with motorcycle fonts, because all plate manufacturers will be licensed from that date and risk being fined and/or losing their licence for manufacturing and/or supplying non-legal plate(s). Had an individual made up their own plate(s), then he or she would risk a five thousand pound fine in addition to the existing draconian penalties for displaying an incorrect plate(s) and font. We all know what the consequences would have been! Certainly, we will be major contributors to the short consultation being undertaken by the DVLA to ensure the changes to the regulations are enacted without further prejudice to our requirements. It is now incumbent on every American vehicle owner to act responsibly toward these new regulations. As much as we like the pressed metal "States Plates", they will NOT be legal. It should be remembered that what the government giveth, they can just as easily take away. It would be inappropriate for individuals to flaunt the law and cause the loss of a concession which has been won with so much blood, sweat, tears, and considerable financial resources on the part of the few dedicated enthusiasts who have lead the campaign. A big thanks goes to all the members of the AIAA, especially its chairman Tony Cohen, for all the hard work and financial resources which have been sunk into this land-mark victory. Without the support of the Association of American Car Clubs UK, who facilitated the letter writing campaign, and with the help of other clubs we doubt the DVLA would have responded with the recommendations to the Minister which have got us thus far. And so a big thanks to every single club member who wrote to his or her MP - each letter was a significant nail in the coffin of this onerous burden - WELL DONE AND THANK YOU! In view of upcoming problems it would be courteous and timely for each to write a letter of thanks to their MP for the support received - we will most assuredly be seeking their support in the future! We hope that over the coming months and years, ALL the clubs and their officials will continue to work together on the other serious legislative issues which are now being scrutinised by those at the forefront of the battle to keep our hobby alive - we are absolutely certain we will be calling on the members to add their voices to the battles ahead... Paul S. Strudwick. Legislation advisor Association of American Car Clubs UK |
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