How to check a coach operator’s licence
Any company that carries passengers for payment in a vehicle that can carry 9 or more passengers needs a PSV operator licence. Ask the company for its licence number, then search it on GOV.UK’s “Find lorry and bus operators” service: the record shows who holds the licence and what type it is. It takes about five minutes.
Why it matters
A PSV (“public service vehicle”) operator licence is the legal permission to run buses, coaches or minibuses for hire. GOV.UK says you need one to “operate a vehicle for hire or reward (payment or payment in kind) that can carry 9 or more passengers” (GOV.UK, PSV operator licences). Licensing and regulation of bus and coach operators is the job of the Traffic Commissioners, and Scotland has its own Traffic Commissioner (GOV.UK, Traffic Commissioners).
So the licence is the first and fastest check on any coach company, minibus firm or booking agent.
The 6-step check
Ask for the operator’s legal name and licence number
A real operator gives both straight away. A booking agent that doesn’t run vehicles should name the operator that will run your trip.
Search GOV.UK
Go to Find lorry and bus operators. You can search by operator name, address or licence number.
Check the name matches
The licence holder should be the company you’re paying, or the operator it has named. If it isn’t, ask why.
Check the licence is valid
If the record shows anything other than a valid licence, for example suspended, revoked or surrendered, don’t book until you have an explanation.
Check the licence type fits the trip
See the table below. A trip abroad needs a standard international licence.
Check the company itself
Search the company name or number on Companies House to confirm it’s active and who runs it.
What the licence types mean
| Licence type | What it allows (GOV.UK, summarised) | What to read into it |
|---|---|---|
| Standard, national operations only | Operating within Great Britain. “Most full-time commercial operators” hold this type | Normal for a UK coach company |
| Standard, national and international operations | “Lets you take passengers abroad as well as within Great Britain” | Needed for a trip into Europe |
| Restricted | 1 or 2 vehicles, “neither can carry more than 8 passengers” | Small-scale work, not a coach company. Check it suits your group |
| Special restricted | Licensed taxi operators running a local service | Not relevant to coach hire |
Source: GOV.UK, PSV operator licences.
The checklist for schools, clubs and companies in Scotland
The licence is the start. This is the generic checklist; it applies to any operator, including us. Before you book, also ask:
| Check | Why | What a good answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Driver checks (Scotland: PVG) | Scottish guidance says drivers and escorts on school transport “must be PVG scheme members, as they are carrying out a ‘regulated role’ with children” (gov.scot school transport guidance 2025, section 6). “DBS” is the England and Wales scheme | “Yes, every driver on your trip is a PVG scheme member” |
| Driver licence and Driver CPC | Coach and minibus drivers working for hire need the right PCV category (D or D1) | “Every driver holds category D (or D1 for a minibus) and a current Driver CPC” |
| Seatbelts | The same guidance says authorities must make sure seatbelts are fitted in vehicles used for their school transport | “Every passenger seat has a seatbelt” |
| Insurance | Covers passengers if something goes wrong | The insurer’s name and a certificate on request |
| Who runs the vehicle | Some firms pass jobs to other operators | The operator’s name and licence number, in writing |
| The vehicle | Size, age, accessibility | Make, model and seat count |
| Breakdown plan | A school group can’t be left at the roadside | How a replacement vehicle is sent, and how fast |
| Paperwork | Schools need it for risk assessments | A written quote, the booking terms, and the driver’s name on the day |
What is PSVAR?
PSVAR is the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. They set wheelchair and accessibility standards for buses and coaches that carry more than 22 passengers and are used on local and scheduled services (legislation.gov.uk explanatory note). A private hire coach for a one-off group trip is generally not a local or scheduled service. Services where passengers pay separate fares on a regular route can be, so if that is your situation, ask your council.
If anyone in your group uses a wheelchair, ask for an accessible vehicle by name, whatever the regulations say.
Worked example: checking Ritaat Coaches
We publish our own details so you can run the check on us.
| Detail | Ritaat Coaches | Where to check |
|---|---|---|
| Legal name | RITAAT AL HAYAT COACH LTD | Companies House, SC827704 |
| Company number | SC827704 | Companies House |
| PSV operator licence | PM2080376 [verify on GOV.UK] | Find lorry and bus operators |
| Licence type | [verify: type exactly as shown on the GOV.UK record] | Same |
| Own vehicles | Blue Mercedes Tourismo coach, silver Volvo B8R coach, silver Mercedes Sprinter minibus | Our vehicles |
| Larger groups | Partner operators; your written quote says which vehicle you get | Ask us |
| Insurance | QBE UK Limited | Ask us |
More about the company is on our About page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check a coach company’s operator licence?
Ask the company for its licence number, then search it on GOV.UK’s “Find lorry and bus operators” service at gov.uk/find-vehicle-operators. Check that the holder’s name matches the company, that the licence is valid, and that the licence type suits your trip.
What does a Standard International licence mean?
It is a standard PSV operator licence for national and international operations: the operator can carry passengers within Great Britain and take them abroad. Most full-time commercial coach companies hold a standard licence of one kind or the other.
What should a school ask a coach company?
Ask for the operator licence number, proof of insurance, confirmation that drivers are PVG scheme members (in Scotland) with the right licence, confirmation that every seat has a seatbelt, the name of the operator that will actually run the trip, the vehicle details and the breakdown plan. Get the answers in writing.
Do minibus companies need an operator licence?
Yes, if they carry passengers for payment in a vehicle that can carry 9 or more passengers. A minibus with a driver for hire falls into that group. A community group running a minibus under a section 19 permit is a different case.
Is “DBS-checked” right for drivers in Scotland?
Not quite. DBS is the scheme for England and Wales. In Scotland, checks are done by Disclosure Scotland, and school transport drivers must be members of the PVG scheme. A Scottish operator should talk about PVG.
What is PSVAR?
The Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations 2000. They require buses and coaches carrying more than 22 passengers on local and scheduled services to meet accessibility standards. Most one-off private hire trips are outside them, but always ask for an accessible vehicle if you need one.
Book with the details in writing
Our quotes are written and list the vehicle and what is included. Ask for one, and check us first.
Related: Coach hire in Glasgow · School and university trips · Corporate coach hire · About Ritaat Coaches · D1 minibus licence guide · Coach hire FAQ