The Public Service Vehicles (Operators' Licences) Regulations 1995

Operators under hiring arrangements

22.  The person who is to be regarded as the operator of a vehicle which is made available by one holder of a licence to another under a hiring arrangement is the holder from whom the vehicle is hired in a case where—

(a) the holder to whom the vehicle is hired is not, under the hiring arrangement, entitled to keep the vehicle in his possession for a total period of more than 14 days;

(b) not less than 14 days have elapsed between the finish of any previous period (of whatever duration) in which the hirer to whom the vehicle is hired was entitled to the use of the vehicle under a hiring arrangement with the holder from whom the vehicle is hired and the start of the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) above;

(c) at all times when the vehicle is being used for carrying passengers for hire or reward during the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) above there is affixed to the vehicle a disc which has been issued to the holder from whom the vehicle is hired;

(d) the vehicle, if made available to the holder of a restricted licence, is not adapted to carry more than sixteen passengers; and

(e) the vehicle is not a licensed taxi made available to or by the holder of a special licence.