Road Traffic Act · 2026 Revised Edition · Part · Public Service Vehicles and Franchises
59. Classes of public service vehicle licences
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Public service vehicle licences shall be issued in respect of —
public service vehicle
“public service vehicle” means a motor vehicle ordinarily used, whether in part or in whole, for the purpose of conveying passengers or goods or both, for hire or reward, whether under contract to a person plying for hire or generally, and, in the case of a tractor, includes any trailer attached to it;
stage carriages;
motor omnibuses;
contract carriages;
taxicabs;
goods service vehicles;
such classes or description of public service vehicle as may be prescribed.
A person who is a holder of a stage carriage licence may, subject and without prejudice to the conditions of any such licence and, if the stage carriage is subject to or regulated by a franchise, without prejudice to the conditions of any such franchise, use such vehicle as a contract carriage.
person
“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
Subject to any contrary direction in any regulations made under this Act, the Licensing Authority may in its discretion grant a goods service vehicle licence in respect of the same vehicle or vehicles in respect of which a public service vehicle licence to carry passengers has or is about to be issued.
Licensing Authority
“Licensing Authority” means the Motor Transport Licensing Authority established under section 49;
Except where application for a public service vehicle licence entails also application for a franchise, application shall be made to the
franchise
“franchise” includes — (a) the grant either of an exclusive right to maintain a public service of road transport within a regulated area or part thereof, or the right to operate, within a regulated area or part thereof, a public service of road transport by a vehicle or vehicles for which a public service vehicle licence is required which is not available to all persons holding licences of the same class: Provided that a right granted is deemed to be a franchise for the purpose of this part of this definition notwithstanding that it does not exclude the Government or persons to whom an exemption has been granted and notwithstanding that it may cease to be exclusive by virtue of the exercise by the Licensing Authority of the powers conferred by this Act or by any franchise issued hereunder; and (b) whether or not paragraph (a) applies, the grant of the right under section 64 to operate within a regulated area or part thereof a stage carriage of any class or description of public service vehicle to which section 64 from time to time applies;
Licensing Authority or to the district Licensing Authority, as the case may be, in the prescribed manner.
Where such application entails also application for a franchise, the applicant may, in lieu of applying in the prescribed manner, apply to the authority which has authority to grant the franchise indicating whether or not he desires a public service vehicle licence in respect of any vehicle if the
vehicle
“vehicle” means any vehicle, including a trailer, constructed, adapted or capable of being used on roads, whether mechanically propelled or not.
Road Traffic 62
road
“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
franchise is not granted and shall thereafter comply in such regard with the directions of that authority:
Provided that nothing contained in this subsection is deemed to authorise such authority to direct the licensing of any vehicle to which such franchise as may be granted does not apply.
Terms defined in s 2
contract carriage
Defined · s 2“contract carriage” means a motor omnibus which carries passengers for hire or reward under a contract express or implied for the use of the vehicle as a whole at or for a fixed or agreed rate or sum;
franchise
Defined · s 2“franchise” includes — (a) the grant either of an exclusive right to maintain a public service of road transport within a regulated area or part thereof, or the right to operate, within a regulated area or part thereof, a public service of road transport by a vehicle or vehicles for which a public service vehicle licence is required which is not available to all persons holding licences of the same class: Provided that a right granted is deemed to be a franchise for the purpose of this part of this definition notwithstanding that it does not exclude the Government or persons to whom an exemption has been granted and notwithstanding that it may cease to be exclusive by virtue of the exercise by the Licensing Authority of the powers conferred by this Act or by any franchise issued hereunder; and (b) whether or not paragraph (a) applies, the grant of the right under section 64 to operate within a regulated area or part thereof a stage carriage of any class or description of public service vehicle to which section 64 from time to time applies;
goods service vehicle
Defined · s 2“goods service vehicle” means a motor vehicle ordinarily used for the carriage of goods for hire or reward;
Licensing Authority
Defined · s 2“Licensing Authority” means the Motor Transport Licensing Authority established under section 49;
person
Defined · s 2“person” shall have the meaning assigned to it by the Interpretation and General Clauses Act;
public service vehicle
Defined · s 2“public service vehicle” means a motor vehicle ordinarily used, whether in part or in whole, for the purpose of conveying passengers or goods or both, for hire or reward, whether under contract to a person plying for hire or generally, and, in the case of a tractor, includes any trailer attached to it;
road
Defined · s 2“road” means any highway and any other road to which the public has access, and includes bridges over which a road passes;
stage carriage
Defined · s 2“stage carriage” means a motor vehicle that carries passengers for hire or reward at separate fares on a previously determined route;
traffic
Defined · s 2“traffic” includes vehicles of every description, pedestrians, processions, and bodies of troops and all animals being ridden, driven or led;
vehicle
Defined · s 2“vehicle” means any vehicle, including a trailer, constructed, adapted or capable of being used on roads, whether mechanically propelled or not.
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