Private hire vehicle licensee must pay £1,676 after allowing unlicensed and uninsured speeding driver to use their vehicle
- Perry Richardson
- 8 minutes ago
- 2 min read
A private hire vehicle (PHV) owner has been fined £1,676 and handed eight penalty points after allowing an unlicensed and uninsured individual to drive the PHV, following a prosecution brought after a speeding offence earlier this year.
The case was confirmed by PC Patrick Quinton, the Taxi Cop for Avon and Somerset Police, who said the matter stemmed from a speed limit offence detected in May 2025 involving a licensed PHV.
According to police, when the speeding offence was investigated, a licensed private hire driver who was the registered keeper of the licensed vehicle, nominated another individual as being behind the wheel at the time. That person did not hold a private hire driver licence, meaning they were not legally entitled to drive a PHV.
Police said there was no evidence that the licensed driver was driving the vehicle themselves. As a result, prosecutors pursued charges for permitting no insurance and permitting an unlicensed person to drive a private hire vehicle.
Avon and Somerset Police refer case to council as enforcement warning issued to private hire drivers
The driver appeared before the court on 24 November, where they were sentenced for both offences. The court imposed eight DVLA penalty points alongside a financial penalty and costs totalling £1,676.
PC Quinton confirmed that the case has now been referred to the relevant local authority licensing team for consideration of further action. Councils have powers to review, suspend or revoke private hire driver licences where public safety or compliance concerns arise.
In a warning to the wider trade, PC Quinton said the case should serve as a reminder of the legal responsibilities attached to PHV licensing. He cautioned drivers not to allow anyone else to drive their licensed vehicle unless they hold the correct private hire driver licence, even if the individual is a family member.
PC Quinton said: “Another recent result from Court to tell you about. In May 2025 a PHV was detected exceeding the speed limit. The driver nominated an unlicensed person as driving at the time. There was no evidence that the PHD themselves were driving, so they were prosecuted for offences of Permitting No Insurance and also Permitting an Unlicensed person to drive a PHV.
“On the 24 November, the PHD was sentenced for both offences and given 8 DVLA points, and fine/costs of £1,676.
“I've just referred the matter to the Council for them to consider what action they wish to take.
“Please dont let anyone drive your PHV unless they have a PHD licence - even if it's family!”
