If you are driving a vehicle that carries passengers, the requirements and legislation that apply to you depend on:
the number of passenger seats
how far you’re driving (the distance of your route)
if you’re driving to or from another country
if you’re driving on a regular or a non-regular service
A regular service follows a route with stopping points for passengers to get on or off at specified intervals.
Public service vehicles (PSV)
A public service vehicle is a vehicle that is used to carry passengers for hire or payment.
Type of operation
8 or fewer passenger seats
9 to 12 passenger seats
13 to 16 passenger seats
17 or more passenger seats
Regular service on route not exceeding 50km
GB domestic rules
GB domestic rules
GB Domestic rules
GB Domestic rules
National or international regular service on route exceeding 50km
The local rules of the countries you drive in (GB domestic rules in England, Wales and Scotland)
EU/AETR rules
EU/AETR rules
EU/AETR rules
National or international non-regular service for example commercial excursions, tours or private hire
The local rules of the countries you drive in (GB domestic rules in England, Wales and Scotland)
EU/AETR rules
EU/AETR rules
EU/AETR rules
Other passenger-carrying vehicles
You do not need to follow any drivers’ hours’ rules if you drive a police, fire service or armed forces vehicle.
If you drive for a different public authority or for a business and your vehicle is a non-PSV with:
up to 8 passenger seats – you do not need to follow any drivers’ hours rules
9 or more passenger seats – you must follow the EU rules (unless your vehicle is exempt from EU law)
If you drive a ‘non-commercial’ vehicle
You drive a non-commercial vehicle if:
passengers are not charged to use the vehicle
you and any other workers are not paid to operate or work in the vehicle
the vehicle is not used professionally or commercially
If your vehicle has up to 8 passenger seats, you do not need to follow any drivers’ hours rules.
If your vehicle has 9 or more passenger seats, you usually need to follow the EU rules. You need to follow GB Domestic Hours Rules instead, if your vehicle has between 10 and 17 passenger seats and is only used for non-commercial journeys.
If you use your vehicle outside the UK
If you drive between the UK, and another country and your vehicle has:
up to 8 passenger seats – you must follow the local rules for the country you’re driving in
9 or more passenger seats – you must follow the EU or the European Agreement Concerning the Work of Crews of Vehicles Engaged in International Road Transport (AETR) rules
EC Regulation 561/2006 on drivers’ hours and tachographs as amended
EU 165/2014 on tachographs and drivers’ hours(repealing Council Reg. (ECC) 3821/85 on recording equipment in road transport and amending Reg (EC) 561/2006 as amended
Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/799 implementing Regulation (EU) No 165/2014 laying down the requirements for the construction, testing, installation, operation and repair of tachographs and their components
EC 1073/2009 on drivers’ hours
The Transport Act 1968 ( Part VI as amended)
The Transport Act 1978
Community Drivers’ Hours and Recording Equipment Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1457)
Drivers’ Hours (Harmonisation with Community Rules) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1458)
Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Recording Equipment) Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/2121)
Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Recording Equipment) (Tachograph Card Fees)
Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1140)
Passenger and Goods Vehicles (Recording Equipment) Regulations 2005 (SI 2005/1904)
