Bus lanes, taxi ranks, where you may stop, PCNs, the Congestion Charge, ULEZ and red routes.
The section in short
This section explains where a London PHV may drive, stop, wait and park. Many SERU questions test these rules because getting them wrong leads to fines and can put your licence at risk. It adds to The Highway Code; it does not replace it.
A PHV is not a taxi
Your car is a private hire vehicle, so taxi-only rules never include you. You cannot drive along bus lanes. You cannot park, wait, collect or set down passengers on a taxi rank. You cannot park at or use a charge point meant for electric taxis. If a sign says a road or space is for taxis, you may not use it. (Page 26)
Stopping for passengers
In many places with stopping limits you may still pull in briefly for passengers. This covers single and double red or yellow lines, kerbs marked for no loading, most parking bays and most bus lanes. Stay only as long as boarding or leaving takes, including time to help a wheelchair user and secure the chair. Never stop on zig-zag lines or where you would block or endanger traffic. (Page 26)
Waiting, engines and PCNs
Stopping to load passengers is allowed in these places, but waiting is not. You can get a PCN for waiting even if you are early, the passenger is late, or they nip into a shop or to a cashpoint. If you must leave the car to help someone, keep it brief and note the booking. The council decides whether to cancel a PCN. Switch off the engine while waiting, and always pull in to the kerb. (Page 27)
Bus lanes and bus stops
You may set down or pick up in most bus lanes, but try to avoid it because it can hold up buses. Go in and out by the most direct safe route. Watch for cyclists, motorcyclists and people leaving buses. Never stop at a bus stop clearway, shown by a wide yellow kerb line, or a red route stop with a wide red line. Avoid other bus stops where you can. (Page 27)
Taxi ranks and taxi charge points
Ranks are only for licensed London taxis, at all times. Electric taxi charge points are only for charging electric taxis, never a PHV. If you park or wait at either, or charge your PHV at a taxi point, you may be fined. TfL may also act against your licence. That can mean it is suspended or revoked. (Page 28)
Penalty Charge Notices
A PCN may be handed out on the street by a parking attendant or enforcement officer. It may also be posted to the registered keeper after a camera records the offence. It is still valid if you never saw an officer or found nothing on your windscreen. Besides parking, PCNs cover moving offences. Examples are using a bus lane, making a banned U-turn, or stopping inside a yellow box junction. (Page 28)
Congestion Charge and ULEZ
In the Congestion Charge zone you pay a daily charge unless you are exempt. A PHV that TfL has designated as wheelchair accessible is exempt when doing a booking from a London-licensed operator. For ULEZ, a petrol PHV needs Euro 4 and a diesel needs Euro 6, or you pay daily. The V5C first registration date usually shows the standard. Check TfL for current charges, hours and zone maps. (Page 28)
Red routes
Red routes are London's main roads, marked with red kerb lines and signs. You may pick up and set down on single or double red lines, but not wait there. One exception: from 22:00 to 06:00 you may stop up to 5 minutes while a passenger uses a cashpoint. Never stop in a pedestrian clearway or on zig-zags. In red route bays marked P, follow the times on the sign. (Page 29)