With medium-term PSVAR exemptions for home-to-school services now in their final phase and due to expire on 31 July 2026, the Department for Transport (DfT) is considering what the next steps for these exemptions might be. 

The DfT has already been gathering data to support its decision-making. Earlier this year, the DfT surveyed coach operators, but further information is now required - specifically about the demand for home to school transport - and the DfT has asked the CPT, RHA and UKCOA to assist. 

The DfT says that “obtaining good data on this aspect of PSVAR should allow for a faster decision-making process, and quicker communication of its outcome to industry.”    

The CPT has therefore launched, and is managing, a further survey of coach operators on behalf of DfT. 

The survey asks only about paid home-to-school services (where a fare is paid by, or on behalf of, at least one passenger) provided by coach, with capacity of 23 or more passengers, in 2025. 

We strongly encourage coach operators providing home to school services to respond to this short (8 question) survey, as the information provided will inform DfT’s decision-making about what will happen in respect of home to school services and PSVAR compliance from 1 August 2026. 

The survey will close at 17:00hrs on 12 September 2025 and can be accessed here.