London Registered Blue Badge Tourist Guide

Private guided sightseeing tours by car in London and throughout Britain
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Private Hire Vehicle Licensing

Licences required by a driver-guide
Under the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 all driver-guides operating from London require three special Private Hire (PHV) licences.

Operator's Licence
All bookings undertaken must be processed by a licensed operator. If the driver-guide does not hold a PHV operator's licence he or she may not accept bookings except from a licensed operator.

My operators licence number is 02114/01/13 and expires on 6 March 2008

Driving Licence
Since 1 June 2003 driver-guides must be in possession of a PHV driving licence. The process involves a medical examination and a police record check. .

My drivers licence number is 015399/01/01. Expires 24 November 2007.

Vehicle Licence
These were introduced on 8 March 2004. Vehicles are inspected annually, with an MOT test every 6 months (this is a thorough inspection which includes the machanical condition, bodywork and emissions).

My vehicle licence number is 101785501. Expires 8 March 2008.

Copies of my PHV licences are available on request.

The credentials of London-based driver-guides can be verified on the Transport for London web site .

England and Wales
The rest of England and Wales comes under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976. As with London, driver-guides need a PHV operator's licence to accept bookings. They need also a PHV driving licence and PHV vehicle licence. However as the application of this Act varies from one authority to another there may be rare instances of driver-guides not requiring PHV licences. Under those circumstances written proof is recommended.

Scotland
PHV licences are not required if no more that one driver-guiding assignment per day is undertaken.

Northern Ireland
Driver-guides in Northern Ireland do not require PHV licences.
Web site by Peter Jamieson © 2004 including all images