Which licence does a shuttle business need?
Up to 8 passengers on pre-booked work, private hire licensing. From 9 passengers, or with separate fares, a PSV operator licence, of which there are four types: standard national, standard national and international, restricted and special restricted. In London a private bus or coach service also needs a London Service Permit.[1]
- Restricted: small-scale operations with 1 or 2 vehicles, neither carrying more than 8 passengers (up to 16 if the vehicle is not part of a passenger transport business or is a sideline).
- Special restricted: for licensed taxi operators running a local service, with stops no more than 15 miles apart, registered with the Traffic Commissioner.
What kinds of shuttle work are there?
Airport and hotel shuttles, staff transport for employers and business parks, event and university shuttles, and school or day-centre runs. Most are contracts, so you sell to one buyer and carry many passengers.
How do you run timetabled shuttle routes?
Set the route and stops, the timetable, the seats per run and how passengers book or check in, then track each vehicle against the timetable. Hourly or daily hire (charter) is priced differently from a per-seat shuttle.
TaxiDex shuttle and charter runs timetabled routes with multiple passengers and hire by the hour or day in the same console as taxi work.
Can a taxi operator run a shuttle?
Yes. A licensed taxi operator can apply for a special restricted PSV licence to run a licensed taxi on a registered local service, with stops no more than 15 miles apart and at least one stop in the district that licensed the taxi.[1]
Frequently asked questions
Does an 8-passenger minibus need a PSV licence?
Not for pre-booked private hire work without separate fares. From 9 passengers, or as soon as you charge separate fares, a PSV operator licence applies.
Do I need federal authority for a shuttle in the US?
Only for interstate passenger work, which needs FMCSA operating authority; purely local shuttles are regulated by the state or city.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] GOV.UK: PSV (public service vehicle) operator licences (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] FMCSA: Get operating authority (interstate passenger carriers) (read 2 Nov 2026)