Taxi Driver Online

I’m sure it’s been discussed before but does anyone actually know ?
One of our Drivers was on a speed awareness course when the guy in charge told him a taxi is classed as a van if it’s not “purpose built” in a factory and therefore has lower speed limits than a passenger car on certain roads. I belive it’s 50mph on single carriageway with a national speed limit. My question is when is a taxi not a van? For instance, my Vito is based on a Vito tourer not a Vito van, but is a Vito tourer based on a Vito van?
The same applies to most conversions although I’d argue mine was “purpose built” by Mercedes/Penso in a factory and has Vito taxi on the log book.(I’m sure cab direct could argue the same)

I think what is being described relates to what we consider to be an 8 seater. (It doesn’t apply to a vehicle licensed 5-7 seats)

Clearly those vehicles actually have nine seats, so they are classed as a PSV which has the lower speed limit.

A mate of mine got done about 10 years ago under that rule.

The flip side is that even an eight seater PH can legally use London’s bus lanes.

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IDFIMH

Cobblers


what does the V5 say?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Back in the days of Limoland, The argument was that because the vehicle had 8 passenger seats it was NOT a psv. However the position for VAT purposes was slightly grey in that for the vehicle to be zero rated the requirement was "built or adapted to carry 8 passengers, driver and crew. Most of the stretched limousines fitted into this category. However to comply with licensing the "crew" seat was taken out so that left 8 passengers and the driver but because the vehicle had been built or adapted for the crew seat even though it had been removed it was still zero rated for VAT.

Te speed limit relies on the "M" classification on the V5, basically its type approval. is it a car-derived van (Land Rover Discovery)or a van-derived car (Mercedes Vito)?

Edited to add
M1-passenger car
N1-light goods vehicle

A lot of "van conversions" have the wrong type approval on the V5. the "type approval" document on the DVSA website is over 65 pages if you care to read it! Plus several of the "awareness courses" I've been on, the person taking the course has been talking bollox and doesn't like being told so in more polite language.

Thanks Roy,
I took a cursory glance at the vehicle type approval document and it does indeed come down to what is stated on the vehicles V5. Mine is M1

So a passenger car it is then. Very often these course providers get things wrong, I've been on a few and have disagreed with what was being lectured, such as the road "killed or seriously injured" figures are misleading. road deaths are about 1700 a year, yes 1700 too many but the "seriously injured" figure of about 36,000 is quoted as the number of road deaths.

on SAC the guy showed an image of of a dual carriageway on which was a car, a sprinter van and a HGV, he asked what the speed limit was on that road

smartass me, hand up.....he asked me so i said................


what vehicle am i in?......lol

he wasnt amused

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most