GETTING TO THE PROM SAFELY: Parents warned to check vehicle licences ahead of prom season
- Perry Richardson
- Jul 3
- 2 min read
Licensing authorities are urging parents to check vehicle and driver licences when hiring transport for prom celebrations. The warning comes as demand rises for chauffeur-driven vehicles, limousines and novelty transport options during the summer season.
Authorities say that without the correct licensing, any insurance cover is invalid. Vehicles may also lack essential safety checks, putting passengers at risk.
Parents are advised to ask for proof of a licence before making a booking. Licensed operators will have no issue supplying confirmation of their credentials.
Vehicles with nine or more passenger seats, such as stretch limousines and party buses, must be licensed as public service vehicles (PSVs) through the Traffic Commissioners for Great Britain.
For smaller vehicles carrying eight passengers or fewer—such as supercars, vintage models or campervans—the vehicle, operator and driver must all be licensed by the same local council. This includes holding a Private Hire Driver licence issued by the same authority that licensed the vehicle and operator.
The warning highlights the growing trend of unlicensed operators offering transport services on social media platforms like Facebook Marketplace. While rare in the licensed trade, unauthorised drivers do occasionally advertise online.
Using an unlicensed service could mean no background checks on the driver, no insurance in the event of an incident, and no guarantee the vehicle is roadworthy.
Before booking, parents should ask for evidence of a valid licence and make a note of the licence number. Licence details can be confirmed by contacting the relevant local council or the Traffic Commissioner.
Where a business is found operating without the proper licensing, it can be reported to the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which has enforcement powers including vehicle removal.
The rules only apply to hired transport. Journeys made by friends or family, where no payment is exchanged—not even for fuel—do not fall under the same licensing requirements.
