PSV Certificate of Initial Fitness
A Public Service Vehicle (PSV) with more than 8 passenger seats (excluding the driver) cannot legally be used for carrying passengers on the highway until it has been issued with a Certificate of Initial Fitness (COIF). This includes all buses, coaches and minibuses that carry passengers for hire and reward. The COIF is issued by a VOSA certifying officer when the vehicle meets all the relevant PSV requirements.
Application for Certificate of Initial Fitness (PSV 417)
are made to PSV section Swansea. The application form will then be sent to the applicant’s nearest certifying officer who will make arrangements for the vehicle COIF examination to be carried out.
There are special provisions for those manufacturers who build large numbers of identical vehicles. This is referred to as type certification. Subject to certain conditions manufacturers are permitted to have vehicles certified without having to present each vehicle for a COIF examination.
Vehicles built in Northern Ireland for export to Great Britain are certified, on VOSA’s behalf, by trained certifying officers who are employed by the Northern Ireland’s Driver and Vehicle Testing Agency.
Currently most vehicles are certified in accordance with the PSV “Conditions of Fitness” Regulations. However an international bus construction directive has now been introduced which in future will apply to all buses, coaches and minibuses. This directive will eventually replace the Conditions of Fitness Regulations.
Page last updated: 17/01/2008