Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981

Changes over time for: Section 6

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Changes to legislation:

Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981, Section 6 is up to date with all changes known to be in force on or before 16 October 2024. There are changes that may be brought into force at a future date. Changes that have been made appear in the content and are referenced with annotations.

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Changes and effects yet to be applied to Section 6:

s. 6(1)(a) words inserted by 1982 c. 49 s. 10(3)(b)
s. 6(1A) extended by 1982 c. 49 s. 10(11)
s. 6(1A) inserted by 1982 c. 49 s. 10(8)

Changes and effects yet to be applied to the whole Act associated Parts and Chapters:

Whole provisions yet to be inserted into this Act (including any effects on those provisions):

s. 51(1A)(1B) inserted by 1982 c. 49 s. 21(4)(b)

6 Certificate of initial fitness (or equivalent) required for use as public service vehicles.E+W+S

(1)[F1Subject to subsection (1ZA) below,] A public service vehicle adapted to carry more than eight passengers shall not be used on a road unless—

(a)[F2an examiner appointed under section 66A of the Road Traffic Act 1988] [F3or an authorised inspector] has issued a certificate (in this Act referred to as a “certificate of initial fitness”) that the prescribed conditions as to fitness are fulfilled in respect of the vehicle; or

(b)a certificate under section 10 of this Act has been issued in respect of the vehicle; or

[F4(d)one of the following certificates has effect with respect to the vehicle―

[F5(ai)a GB certificate of conformity;]

(i)[F6a relevant] [F7certificate of conformity];

(ii)a F8... small series certificate of conformity;

(iii)an individual approval certificate.]

[F9(1ZA)In the case of a public service vehicle to which subsection (1ZB) below applies, subsection (1) above has effect as if paragraphs (a) and (b) of that subsection were omitted.

(1ZB)This subsection applies to any public service vehicle which, by virtue of [F10regulation 21] of the Approval Regulations, may not—

(a)be granted a first licence under section 21 of the Vehicle Excise and Registration Act 1994, or

(b)be registered before the issue of a first licence under that section,

unless one of the certificates mentioned in paragraph (d) of subsection (1) above has effect with respect to the vehicle.]

[F11(1A)Without prejudice to the powers of the Secretary of State under section 7 of this Act in relation to the exercise by certifying officers of their functions, regulations may make provision with respect to the examination of vehicles for the purposes of subsection (1)(a) above by or under the direction of authorised inspectors and the issue or refusal of certificates of initial fitness by such inspectors on any such examinations.]

(2)Subject to section 68(3) of this Act, if a vehicle is used in contravention of subsection (1) above, the operator of the vehicle shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding [F12level 4 on the standard scale].

[F13(3)In this section—

“Approval Regulations” means the Road Vehicles (Approval) Regulations 2020;
F14...
[F15“GB certificate of conformity” means—
(a)
a GB certificate of conformity within the meaning of Article 3(5B) of the Type Approval Regulation, or
(b)
a certificate of conformity issued under section 57(1) of the Road Traffic Act 1988;]
“individual approval certificate” means a certificate issued under regulation 18(10) of the Approval Regulations;
F16...
[F15“relevant certificate of conformity” means—
(a)
a UK (NI) certificate of conformity, as defined in Article 3(5C) of the Type Approval Regulation, or
(b)
in a case where the vehicle—
(i)
was in the United Kingdom before IP completion day;
(ii)
is a qualifying Northern Ireland good, within the meaning of section 47 of the United Kingdom Internal Market Act 2020; or
(iii)
is approved as a type vehicle under section 55(1A) or (1D) of the Road Traffic Act 1988,
an EU certificate of conformity, as defined in Article 3(5A) of the Type Approval Regulation;]
[F15“small series certificate of conformity” means a certificate issued under regulation 16(7) of the Approval Regulations;]
[F15“Type Approval Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2018/858 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 May 2018 on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.]]