Transport service licence

16-1 TSL

Please note that this page includes light rental vehicles and light vehicle recovery service vehicles.

Reasons for rejection

Mandatory requirement

1. The operator of a light PSV has not notified (Note 3) the vehicle inspector of the passenger service licence number under which the vehicle is operated.

2. The operator of a light rental service vehicle has not notified the vehicle inspector of the rental service licence number under which the vehicle is operated.

3. The operator of a light vehicle recovery service vehicle has not notified the vehicle inspector of the vehicle recovery service licence number under which the vehicle is operated.

Note 1

If correctly licensed, a vehicle that requires a transport service licence can be identified by the ‘L’ on the vehicle licence label.

Note 2 Definitions

PSV (passenger service vehicle), for the purpose of this section, means a vehicle that:

  • is used to carry passengers for hire or reward, including the letting on hire of a vehicle by a person who drives the vehicle
    or provides a driver for the vehicle if, during hiring, the vehicle is used for the carriage of passengers, or
  • is a class MD2 vehicle,
  • but does not include the following:
  • a rental vehicle that is not a passenger service vehicle, or
  • a vehicle used as a place of abode to the extent that it is not used in a rental service (eg a motorhome or dual-purpose
    motorhome carrying horses where at least 50% of the floor space is constructed for human accommodation), or
  • a hearse.

Rental service vehicle, for the purposes of this section, means a vehicle that is used or available for use in a rental service for letting on hire for the carriage of passengers or goods, or both, to a person who drives or provides a driver for the vehicle.

Vehicle recovery service vehicle, for the purpose of this section, means a vehicle that is designed or adapted for the purpose of towing or carrying motor vehicles for hire or reward, but does not include recovery vehicles of the New Zealand Defence Force.

Note 3

Many vehicles are required to display a TSL label that identifies the TSL number the vehicle is presently operated under (see Figure 16-1-1). For CoF purposes, the vehicle inspector should use the number on the TSL label unless otherwise notified by the operator.

Figure 16-1-1. Sample TSL label

Transport service licence 

Summary of legislation

Applicable legislation
Mandatory requirement

1. No certificate of fitness shall be issued in respect of any transport service vehicle unless the vehicle inspector has been notified of the transport service licence number under which the vehicle is being operated.

Page amended 1 July 2014 (see amendment details).

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