SOVs, Permit 19, Insurance and Safety Inspections

Adult Staff The Staff Mess
1

Looking for advice please, as this seems to be a grey area.

We recently sold our minibus … it was a 14 seater, 3.5T Ford, but was 12 years old, and we were struggling with the 6 week safety inspections, not so much the cost, but the sheer inconvenience of getting it to and from a garage to get the inspection done every 6 weeks.

Our insurance requires that we follow the rules around a Permit 19, and the vehicle must possess one.

So a few random questions …

Would a 7 seater “car” be classed as an SOV and therefor be subject to Permit 19 rules and 6 / 12 weeks safety inspections? Or a 6 seater “50/50” crew van?

Is everything, owned by a Sqn, that transports cadets, classed as an SOV?

Thanks in advance

C

2

ACLI 308

1 Like
3

I’m sure there is an MT WO at HQAC now that would probably be the best person to ask.

Looks like the answer is in ACLI 308 JB has posted!

1 Like
4

You’ll probably get response something along the lines of “speak to your local traffic commissioner” :roll_eyes:

5

soo ive had a quick look and it seems to state that the ACLI refers to SOV, vehicles with 9 seats or more, as minibuses.

Am i stretching things or making assumptions then, that a vehicle with 8 or less seats would NOT be considered an SOV and therefore not subject to Permit 19, even though it is used for hire and reward?

C

6

I believe that a section 19 permit is only for PCVs, carring 9+ passengers.

Technically there is another section permit you can apply for for smaller vehicles, but this tends to be designed for taxis.

My suggestion is you get the section 19 permit for the smaller vehicle.

7

All the rules are on the Government web-site. As usual here there will be ones own opinion/disagreement and “it ridiculous” but as far as the Law goes its all here:

Section 19 and 22 permits and obligations: not for profit passenger transport - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

3 Likes
8

Strictly, yes; SOV meaning Sqn Owned Vehicle. However there are the vagaries of our organisations rules and the law to take into account…

1 Like
9

The permit 19 is the easiest part.

Form sent to traffic commisioner.
Then display for 5 years.

The harder part is the minibus requirements to seevice every 12 weeks…

Whether that is needed for a 7 seater car…

You would have to ask HQAC.

10

I’m fairly certain that this is a PSV requirement, so only for vehicles of 9 seats or over (unless you’re charging individual fares, like a minicab)

1 Like
11

Someone’s watching . . . ACLI 308 has been updated to clarify that SOVs being 9 pax seats and above.

2 Likes
12

So what does that make a vehicle owned by a squadron that has less than 9 seats??

1 Like
13

A car. But it’s still squadron owned. We just apply the same basic rules as for a PCV.

1 Like
14

Key part there being passengers, the driver doesn’t count. So if it has 9 seats including the driver it’s not a PCV.

1 Like
15

Correct, which is why they’re a good option for people as you can drive them on a car licence. Ford Tourneo types with 8 passengers and a decent boot give great flexibility.

3 Likes
16

These are great and we used to get them quite often via clarity for AEF. 2 X Sqn allocations of 4 cadets each plus 1 X driver - sorted! No D1 required

1 Like