
Delay in receiving COIF licence proves costly for limo firms
Many limo hire company bosses are complaining that new safety regulations brought in this October are affecting business after they’ve experienced delays in having their new licenses issued.
Under new Vehicle and Operator Services Agency (VOSA) regulations, any limo carrying over 8 passengers must have a Certificate Of Initial Fitness (COIF) before it can operate legally on UK roads. Only a small number of companies in the country offer a COIF service for limos, making it harder for limousine hire firms to get their vehicles through the process quickly. Plus the price of having a vehicles issued with a COIF can cost up to £20,000.
However a delay in receiving licenses through from VOSA is proving problematic for a number of firms. First Class Limousines from North Lanarkshire say that despite applying for the COIF licence in December of last year, they have yet to receive the paper work. The limo boss has spent £20,000 on COIF-ing her vehicle and fears the business could go bankrupt if they don’t get the official license through soon as the firm will be forced to turn down work.
Glasgow based Las Vegas Limousines is also in a similar position. The company invested thousands of pounds having their limos converted, but haven’t been able to put a single car on the road since October, as they are still waiting to receive their license.
VOSA have defended the delay in sending the new licenses out citing the small number of companies with the expertise in converting limos to COIF standards as the main hurdle. VOSA say that due to the backlog of vehicles awaiting the procedure, “those who have chosen to leave making their vehicles legal until now, have to wait.”



