Chauffeur companies which have abused wedding car rules in the past could be responsible for forcing others out of the trade if new legislations are enforced in 2014.
Officials from the Law Commission are in the process of reviewing the taxi and private hire legislations and amongst the proposals are to licence and regulate the wedding car business. Currently, no particular licences are required by a chauffeur if they solely offer a church wedding car service, just hire and reward insurance is needed.
Companies who have misused the relaxed rules by offering other services such as airport and guest travel solutions could be to blame for small businesses locking their classic vehicles away in the garage for good if the new legislations are introduced.
The consultation for the Law Commissions review of the taxi and private hire trade ended in August 2012 with a final report of the findings expected by mid 2014. It calls for wedding and funeral cars to be controlled by local authorities in the same way as private hire vehicles and will include vehicle inspections and CRB checks for drivers.
Some operators claim they will shut their doors for good as the costs would be too high to continue trading – but other licensed chauffeur companies are supporting the proposals saying it’s only fair if everyone becomes licensed.
Steve Wright from the Licensed Private Hire Car Association told TheChauffeur.com; “We agree as there is evidence that some have exploited the current exemptions to avoid licensing and have stretched the provisions way beyond church services, etc. We also believe the safeguards that licensing affords, in particular with regard to drivers and vehicles are best ‘in scope’ of licensing.”
He added; “The current VOSA sweep on the limousine market has unearthed a shocking number of dangerous vehicles as well as unfit drivers, so for these reasons licensing should be ‘all embracing’ for those carrying passengers for reward.
Chauffeur Ryan Thomas posted on Facebook; “Personally, I think its a good idea for wedding cars to be licensed. It means they have to comply with a certain set of standards, in which the drivers would have to complete a medical to confirm they are fit to drive and also have a CRB.
Suzie Goodman, who runs Karma Kars in Cotswold told TheChauffeur.com; “If this goes ahead, It’s not only going to be a lot of money for a car to pass the compliance tests but also the driver has to do a number of tests. A lot of people who are retired and have a car they love, which they hire out now and then for a little bit of income, will be taken off the roads. You will see hundred of cars disappear from the business overnight.
She added; “There will be very little choice for couples wanting to get married and the ones that are left will be really expensive and out of most people’s budgets.”
Brian Sullivan from BPS Wedding Cars said; “The cars we use for airport runs are licensed by our local authority, but our wedding cars are different as they are classics. If we had to register and go through the hoops with our local council it would mean the end of the wedding car business and after talking to other operators, it will be the end of many small businesses up and down the country.”
In the light of the consultation, almost 600 operators recently signed an online petition to halt wedding cars being governed by local authorities.
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