The rules

Limo hire rules explained: licensing, passenger limits and your rights

Two licensing systems, split by seats

GOV.UK's limousine licensing page sets out the basic rule. Limousines must be run by a licensed operator unless they're being hired out without a driver. A small limousine, seating up to 8 passengers, needs a private hire vehicle (PHV) operator licence. A large limousine, seating 9 passengers or more, needs a public service vehicle (PSV) operator licence.

GOV.UK also says that operators hiring out limousines and drivers separately to avoid licensing are breaking the law.

Small limousines: the private hire system

Outside London, private hire vehicles are licensed by the local council. In London, they're licensed by Transport for London (TfL). Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own processes. A private hire vehicle can only be pre-booked, so it can't pick you up from the street (GOV.UK).

The stretch limousine guidance linked from GOV.UK explains that under this system the vehicle, the driver and the operator are each licensed separately, and that each council decides whether it will license stretch limousines in its area.

Large limousines: the PSV system

Any vehicle that can carry 9 or more passengers for hire or reward needs a PSV operator licence, which comes from the traffic commissioner rather than the council. The stretch limousine guidance adds that the driver of a large limousine used as a PSV needs a category D1 or D entitlement on their driving licence, depending on the number of seats, rather than an ordinary car licence.

Weddings and funerals

Limousines with up to 8 passenger seats don't need a licence when they're used for weddings and funerals (GOV.UK). The exemption is for those smaller vehicles only. A limousine carrying 9 or more passengers for hire or reward still comes under the PSV rules.

How to check a firm

For a London private hire operator, driver or vehicle, use TfL's licence checker. Elsewhere, ask the firm which council licensed it and check with that council, which you can find through GOV.UK. For a vehicle with 9 or more passenger seats, GOV.UK has a service to find bus operators by name, address or licence number.

Vehicle standards

Stretched limousines must have Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) to be registered and licensed. For those built before 29 July 2011, a Certificate of Initial Fitness (COIF) is accepted. Unlicensed or uninsured limousines can be destroyed or confiscated (GOV.UK).

Seat belts

You must wear a seat belt if one is fitted in the seat you're using, with only a few exceptions, and only one person is allowed in each seat fitted with a belt (GOV.UK). The stretch limousine guidance notes that there's no legal requirement to fit seat belts to sideways-facing seats, and that no seat belts or child restraints are approved for them, so a child who needs a child restraint (anyone under 135 cm tall who's also under 12) can't travel in one.

Your booking and the law

The 14-day cancellation right in the Consumer Contracts Regulations doesn't apply to passenger transport services (regulation 27(2)(c)), so the booking terms you agree to matter. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, the service must be performed with reasonable care and skill (section 49), what the firm tells you about its service can become part of the contract (section 50), and an unfair term isn't binding on you (section 62).

Under-18s and alcohol

If you're under 18, it's against the law for someone to sell you alcohol, and for an adult to buy or try to buy alcohol for you. Under-18s drinking alcohol in public can be stopped, fined or arrested by police (GOV.UK).

A note on this guide

This is general information, not legal or professional advice. Rules change, so please check the official sources we link to before you make a decision.