Important

Please note that as from 10th September 2008 some important changes are being made regarding holders of BUS/COACH driving licence categories. To view these changes, please click the link below.

Certificate of Professional Competence for Professional Truck and Bus/Coach Drivers (Word Document, 9 KB)

Public Service Vehicles - PSV's

Public Service Vehicles are vehicles that carry passengers for a fee.  These vehicles qualify for a reduced rate in tax. PSV's are separated into two categories:

• Large Public Service Vehicle - LPSV (Vehicle capable of carrying more that eight passengers - Busses)
• Small Public Service Vehicle - SPSV (Vehicles capable of carrying eight passengers or less only - Taxi's, Hackney's and Limousines) 

In order to use a vehicle as a PSV there are two types of licence required:

• The driver must hold a PSV Drivers Licence - 'the driver's badge'
• The vehicle must be registered as a PSV and hold a PSV Vehicle Licence

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SPSV Drivers Licence - Drivers Badge

SPSV Drivers Licences are issued by the Commission for Taxi Regulation.

For information on the application process for the SPSV Drivers Licence or to book your test, contact the Commission for Taxi Regulation on:

Queries:           1890 347 347*

Test Booking:   1890 340 123*

Website:           www.spsvtest.ie

*Note that the rates charged for the use of 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers.

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SPSV Vehicle Licence

SPSV Vehicle Licences are issued by the Commission for Taxi Regulation.  Vehicle licences are administered by National Care Testing Service Limited (NCTS) on behalf of the Commission.

Fees For SPSV Licences are as follows:

SPSV application forms are available from the National Car Testing Service (NCTS,) contactable at 1890 927 977*. Forms are also available from your local NCTS test centre.

*Note that the rates charged for the use of 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers.

New Licence Applications:

1. Fill in the application form and return it to the NCTS with the appropriate fee.  You will then be issued with a conditional offer.
2. If you are applying for a Taxi licence, proceed to have the vehicle fitted out with a meter and roof-sign.  Hackneys and Limousines go straight to step 3.
3. When the vehicle is ready for inspection, it can be presented at any of the 43 NCTS test centres, where it will be tested and assessed for suitability as a SPSV.
4. Upon successful completion of the test, a licence will be granted when the application, together with the following documents, have been ispected and passed by NCTS:

• A valid NCT certificate
• A valid SPSV insurance certificate in respect of the vehicle to be licenced
• A valid Tax Clearance Certificate in respect of the named applicant for thislicence (this can be obtained from your local revenue office or by visiting www.revenue.ie)

Licence Renewals:

Six weeks in advance of renewal date, you will receive notification of the expiry date of your licence, together with details of an appointment to renew.  This appointment will be co-ordinated with your NCT vehicle test.  A final reminder will issue two weeks prior to the expiry date.  This notice will inform you of the censequences of not renewing.

You will be able to renewyour vehicle licence up to 12 weeks in advance of the expiry date.

Licences will only be renewed on production of:

• A valid NCT certificate
• A valid SPSV insurance certificate in respect of the vehicle to be licenced
• A valid Tax Clearance Certificate in respect of the named applicant for this licence

All Other Licensing Transactions

All other licencing transactions (transfers, change of vehicle) will also be done through an NCTS test centre and will require the production of the same documentation as outlined above.

Lapsed Licences

Any licence not renewed within the 12 week period prior to the expiry date will lapse.  In order to facilitate people who are unable to renew within that period, a person may apply to the Commission to have a lapsed licence restored.  Any such application must be made within six months of the expiry date, and will be subject to a licence restoration fee of €500.

Where a licence has lapsed for more than six months, an application for restoration may be made to the District Court.  Where the application is granted, the Commission will then restore the licence on receipt of the €500 restoration fee.

Contact Information

• SPSV Lo-call 1890 927 977*
• Email: bookings@ncts.ie
• Fax: (01) 413 5982

Opening Hours

The opening hours of the various centres throughout the country vary depending on demand.  Some centres operate late evening and Saturday opening hours.  Full details of opening hours can be obtained from the NCT Call Centre (1890 927 977*) which is open for calls st the following times:

• Monday - Thursday: 08.00 - 20.00 (excluding bank holidays)
• Friday: 08.00 - 18.00

Contact details for the Commission for Taxi Regulation are as follows:

Commission for Taxi Regulation, 35 Fitzwilliam Square, Dublin 2. Telephone: (01) 6593800, Email: commission@taxiregulator.ie, Website: www.taxiregulator.ie

* Note that the rates charged for the use of 1890 (LoCall) numbers may vary among different service providers.

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LPSV Licences

Both the LPSV Vehicle Licence and LPSV Drivers Licence are issued by An Garda Síochána.

The Wexford Gardaí PSV Office can be contacted on:

053 9165209