What makes a Limo hire legal?
If you are going to hire a limo with more than 8 seats, the limo will need to be tested by VOSA - Vehicle and Operator Services Agency.
To comply Limos need to have many changes made, following their import from the USA they need to have new steering racks, so they can meet UK turning circle regs, the windows need replacing with glass with EC markings and the passenger doors must open to 90 degrees to make getting in and out easier, a speed limiter is fitted which will regulate the top speed to 62 MPH or 100 KPH, a Tachograph is fitted which records the drivers time that they have been working. The cost of the changes range from 10,000 to 20.000 depending on the Limo, at this time only about 6 Limo Manchester or Liverpool companies have invested in these
conversions.
The test for the Limo is called a
CoIF, which is a Certificate of Initial Fitness, the Limo company will also need an Operators licence, for example First Choice Limos licence No. is PC0004978 and we display a licence disc in the window, ours are green but they may also be blue, for a full time Limo hire company or orange for a part time Limo company.
The full time Limo hire companies have a transport manager who has taken extensive training and sat examinations to get the relevant qualifications, so when you want to book a 4x4 Limousine you should ask for their CoIF No. and there O-licence No.
The insurance is void if the Limo hire company does not have these documents. The 4x4 Limousine driver should also have a PCV driving licence, they were called PSV but the name has been changed.
All these tests and licences are in place for the safety of the travelling public and the Limos should undergo a 10 weekly inspection to ensure road worthiness.
At First Choice Limos we have all these documents available for inspection and we welcome you to view our Legal Limos.
