Relaxation of Eligibility Requirements for Commercial Vehicle Driving Licences and Extension of Pre-service Course to Taxi and Public Bus Drivers

Introduction

To alleviate the shortage problem of commercial vehicle drivers and facilitate the supply of new blood for commercial vehicle trades, the Government has amended the relevant regulations to shorten the period required to hold a private car (PC) or light goods vehicle (LGV) full driving licence before a person may apply for a commercial vehicle driving licence. With a view to enhancing the safety and quality of public transport services, the requirement of attendance and completion of a pre-service course currently imposed on applicants for a public light bus (PLB) full driving licence will be extended to applicants for taxi and public bus full driving licences; in addition to passing the relevant driving test, applicants shall also attend and complete the relevant pre-service course and obtain the course certificate for the issue of the relevant full driving licence.

Measures Implementation Date

1 October 2020

Relaxation of Eligibility Requirements for Commercial Vehicle Driving Licences

After implementation of the measures, for an applicant:

(1)	who has completed the one-year probationary driving period for a PC or LGV, he/she will be eligible to apply for a learner's or full driving licence to drive a commercial vehicle immediately upon obtaining a full driving licence for the corresponding vehicle type (i.e. PC or LGV), instead of having held the PC or LGV licence for at least two years; or
(2)	to whom such a probationary driving period for a PC or LGV is not applicable, he/she will be eligible to apply for a learner's or full driving licence to drive a commercial vehicle after having held a full driving licence for a PC or LGV for at least one year, instead of having held the PC or LGV licence for at least three years.

Other eligibility requirements (such as aged 21 or above and not being convicted of any specified serious traffic offence) remain unchanged.

Note: "Commercial vehicle" as referred to in the relaxation measure includes a taxi, PLB, private light bus, public bus, private bus, medium goods vehicle (MGV), heavy goods vehicle (HGV) or special purpose vehicle but does not include an articulated vehicle. Applicants for an articulated vehicle driving licence shall hold a valid MGV or HGV full driving licence.