PLTA uncovers VT10,000 bus permits sold for up to VT200,000

August 6, 2026 11:13 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

The Public Land Transport Authority (PLTA) has uncovered a practice where bus permit holders purchase permits for VT10,000 before selling them to other operators for between VT150,000 and VT200,000, prompting the authority to immediately stop approving transfers of bus permits.

The decision follows concerns that some operators have been profiting from the resale of permits while later attempting to obtain new ones from the PLTA.

The authority said many families have approached the office requesting to transfer their bus permits to friends or relatives after selling the permits for substantial amounts. Many applicants claimed their buses were old, no longer roadworthy, or had been parked in garages because they could not be repaired.

However, the PLTA said it has observed that many of those same buses are still operating on public roads despite no longer holding valid permits, as the permits had already been sold to other individuals.

Some of the former permit holders have since returned to the office seeking new bus permits after selling their original permits. The authority made it clear that such requests will not be approved.

“You cannot buy a bus permit for VT10,000, sell it for VT150,000 to VT200,000, and later expect to purchase another permit for VT10,000,” the office stated.

According to the PLTA, the office maintains records of permit holders, including the names of those who sold their permits and the registration numbers of their buses.

If approval is granted in the future to issue additional bus permits, priority will be given to operators who genuinely need them, including owners of newly purchased buses and those who were unable to renew their permits during the early 2026 renewal period.

The authority also revealed that some individuals who sold their bus permits later obtained Maxi Taxi permits but have been using those vehicles to operate as ordinary buses.

As part of its efforts to strengthen regulation of the public transport sector, the PLTA confirmed that the issuance of new Maxi Taxi permits has also been suspended until further notice.

The PLTA said the measures are intended to protect the integrity of the country’s public transport licensing system, prevent the commercial resale of permits, and ensure future permits are allocated fairly to operators who genuinely require them.

For context, the Daily Post reported in March this year that the number of buses permitted to operate on Efate had been capped at 1,400, according to PLTA Chief Executive Officer Reginald Tabi. The cap was introduced to better manage public transport services and the growing number of buses operating in Port Vila and surrounding areas.

The authority said further information regarding future permit allocations and any changes to the permit system will be announced in due course.