Transport Malta introduces amendments to the Light Passenger Transport Services and Vehicle Hire Services Regulations

Transport Malta has announced amendments to the Light Passenger Transport Services and Vehicle Hire Service Regulations (S.L 65.33 and S.L. 499.68). 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.”

The key objectives of these amendments are to provide clear guidance to both operators and the general public. 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.
Hereunder is a summary of 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.
   Transport Malta remains dedicated to enhancing the quality and safety of passenger transport services
   in Malta. 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.