Transport Malta has announced amendments to the Light Passenger Transport Services and Vehicle Hire Service Regulations which come into effect from today.

These amendments primarily target operators of light passenger transport vehicles who hold an operator’s license issued by the Authority to provide service of Light Passenger Transport Vehicles (LPTVs) which can carry up to eight (8) passengers and bear registration plates with the letters “GY” or “LY.”

Transport Malta said that the key objectives of these amendments are to provide clear guidance to both operators and the general public.

It added that “these will complement the ongoing efforts to regulate the sector, including recent changes regarding the requirement for a Maltese or EU driving license for drivers in this sector.”

A summary below shows the main aspects of these regulations:

1. Garage Facility Clarification:

Operators are permitted to garage light passenger transport vehicles in any location which is off-street in which parking or garaging of such vehicles is allowed, as explain below.

2. Overview of the Structure of the Regulations:

These amendments consist of a set of regulations that clarify definitions and introduce changes to various sections of the principal regulations.

3. Commentary on Key Regulations:

The scope of these revised regulations are:

a. Strengthen the obligations of applicants regarding the exclusive use of garage facilities. Applicants must submit a report from an warranted architect confirming the addresses and site plans, as well as specifying the total number of vehicles each garage facility can accommodate.

b. operators who have five (5) or more vehicle shall provide the relative development permit approving the use of the garaging facility in which the vehicles are parked as a public service garage, and provide the details of any such permit. This requirement, along with a declaration from the Architect, is necessary to obtain the operator’s license.

c. The signed and stamped architect’s declaration together with the site plan, is a requirement for every operator, regardless of the number of vehicles in their fleet.

d. Emphasise that operators must provide evidence of off-street parking exclusively for their registered vehicles and submit a report from a warranted architect.

e. Specify that operators applying to register additional vehicles under their operator license must ensure they have adequate space in their existing garage facilities. If the current parking facilities cannot accommodate the increase in vehicles, operators must apply with the Authority to add parking facility to accommodate them.

4. Effective Date:

These regulations came into effect today. However, Operators who are in possession of a valid operator license or have pending applications for the issuance of an operator licence have twelve (12) months from the effective date of these regulations to comply with their terms.

The Authority will promptly process applications, including those that were not renewed in the days leading up to the publication of these amendments.

For further information or clarification on the implementation of these regulations, you may contact Transport Malta via email at info.tm@transport.gov.mt.

These amendments aim to establish a more efficient and transparent regulatory framework for all stakeholders involved in the light passenger transport services and vehicle rental services.

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