HOW MANY TFL BUSSES IN CURRENT OPERATION HAD NO VALID MOT AS AT 1st JUNE 2023?
Request ID: FOI-0655-2324 Date published: 14 June 2023
You asked
It appears that many TFL busses are currently operating on London & Home Counties roads WITHOUT a current and valid MOT.
DVLA's website is clear regarding MOT requirements; "all public service vehicles (such as buses and coaches) with more than 8 passenger seats - not including the driver’s seat"
We have photographic evidence of vehicle registration "BD65 EVV" as an example operating route 93 on 30th May 2023 as an example.
HOW MANY TFL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES; (TFL BUSSES), ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING ON THE LONDON & HOME COUNTY ROADS WITHOUT CURRENT AND VALID MOT CERTIFICATE AS AT 1st JUNE 2023?
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-0655-2324 Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 31May 2023 asking for information about bus MOTs. Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. Specifically you asked: “It appears that many TFL busses are currently operating on London & Home Counties roads WITHOUT a current and valid MOT. DVLA's website is clear regarding MOT requirements; "all public service vehicles (such as buses and coaches) with more than 8 passenger seats - not including the driver’s seat" We have photographic evidence of vehicle registration "BD65 EVV" as an example operating route 93 on 30th May 2023 as an example. HOW MANY TFL PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLES; (TFL BUSSES), ARE CURRENTLY OPERATING ON THE LONDON & HOME COUNTY ROADS WITHOUT CURRENT AND VALID MOT CERTIFICATE AS AT 1st JUNE 2023? TfL does not hold the requested information. London's bus services are operated by private bus companies on behalf of TfL, and it is for those companies to ensure that their buses have passed their MOTs. We do not hold a list of how many buses (if any) are operating without a valid MOT. However, that said, note that sample checks are done as part of vehicle inspections undertaken by an independent body on behalf of TfL, and the regulatory bodies for bus and coach operators and vehicle licensing (the Traffic Commissioners and the DVLA) also make such checks. Without an Operator’s licence from the Traffic Commissioner, the operator cannot operate a service. Note that in regard to the registration number cited in your request (BD65 EVV). this vehicle passed its last test on 8 September 2022, with the expiry date not until 27 September 2023 (see here: https://www.check-mot.service.gov.uk/results?registration=BD65EVV - click “Show” under the heading “Annual test results” near the bottom of the page to see the history of test results for the vehicle, including that for 8September 2022 cited above). Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed. Yours sincerely, David Wells FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
