diff --git a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/exception_mapping_utils.py b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/exception_mapping_utils.py
index b76c97ad2de..cf5e28073f5 100644
--- a/litellm/litellm_core_utils/exception_mapping_utils.py
+++ b/litellm/litellm_core_utils/exception_mapping_utils.py
@@ -755,12 +755,19 @@ def _map_openai_like_exception(
                 llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
                 model=model,
             )
-        elif original_exception.status_code == 401 or original_exception.status_code == 403:
+        elif original_exception.status_code == 401:
             raise AuthenticationError(
                 message=f"{custom_llm_provider.capitalize()}Exception - {original_exception.message}",
                 llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
                 model=model,
             )
+        elif original_exception.status_code == 403:
+            raise PermissionDeniedError(
+                message=f"{custom_llm_provider.capitalize()}Exception - {original_exception.message}",
+                llm_provider=custom_llm_provider,
+                model=model,
+                response=getattr(original_exception, "response", None),
+            )
         elif original_exception.status_code == 400:
             raise BadRequestError(
                 message=f"{custom_llm_provider.capitalize()}Exception - {original_exception.message}",
diff --git a/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_exception_mapping_utils.py b/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_exception_mapping_utils.py
index 3eb8094f914..4f000eb18eb 100644
--- a/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_exception_mapping_utils.py
+++ b/tests/test_litellm/litellm_core_utils/test_exception_mapping_utils.py
@@ -805,7 +805,7 @@ DEVIATIONS_FROM_THE_OPENAI_SHAPE = {
         503: UPSTREAM_STATUS_DISCARDED,
     },
     "databricks": {
-        403: (litellm.AuthenticationError, 401),
+        403: (litellm.PermissionDeniedError, 403),
         422: (litellm.BadRequestError, 400),
     },
     "gemini": {
@@ -1096,7 +1096,11 @@ def test_bedrock_mantle_context_overflow_maps_to_context_window_exceeded():
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
     "status_code, expected_class",
-    [(401, litellm.AuthenticationError), (429, litellm.RateLimitError)],
+    [
+        (401, litellm.AuthenticationError),
+        (403, litellm.PermissionDeniedError),
+        (429, litellm.RateLimitError),
+    ],
 )
 def test_a_base_llm_exception_without_a_provider_branch_maps_by_status_code(
     status_code, expected_class, quiet_exception_mapping