Renewal of hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licence

All current licensed Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles must comply with the council’s policy and conditions and be suitable to be used as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.

You must ensure that the vehicle is taxed before applying to renew the vehicle licence.

Application and guidance notes

Before you apply to renew the vehicle licence you will need the following documents:

• insurance certificate or cover note demonstrating the vehicle is insured for hackney carriage and/or private hire purposes
• MOT (this should be dated within 30 days of the date of the application).
• mechanical check-list (taxi test) which can be carried out at one of the 4 nominated testing stations (this should be dated within 30 days of the date of the application).
• V5C (DVLA logbook) This is only required if the vehicle has been modified or where the vehicle proprietor has change their address.
• if the vehicle is fitted with a mechanical hoist/winch and/or ramp you will need to provide a Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) certificate.
• a basic disclosure for any applicant named on the application form who does not hold a combined hackney carriage and private hire licence.
• for hackney carriages only - a meter certificate carried out at one of the approved meter suppliers.

All hackney carriage vehicles must be fitted with a roof light with the word taxi on the front and rear of the roof light and a taxi meter.

The vehicle may not be used for hire unless the taxi meter has been tested and approved by the council or their authorised agents. All taxi meters must comply with the following:

• all hackney carriage vehicles require a calendar controlled tariff taxi meter
• a copy of the current table of fares supplied by the council clearly displayed inside the vehicle at all times
• it must be calibrated and sealed with a tamper evidence seal following a change to the table of fares

Fee

You will need to pay the application fee by credit or debit card as part of the online application process which is £240 for a 12 month licence or £175 for a 6 month licence.

Processing and timescales

Following a successful application please allow up to 15 clear working days before the licence expiry date for the licence to be issued. You will be required to collect the licence plate and roundels from the council office in person or send a representative. ID is required before the items are issued. Please note if you are sending a representative you will need to provide us with their name beforehand.