Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy 2021 to 2026

The Council is responsible for licensing hackney carriages (currently 257), private hire vehicles (currently 339) and wheelchair accessible vehicles (currently 16) operating in the Borough.

Private Hire Vehicles

A private hire vehicle is a motor vehicle constructed or adapted vehicle with no more than 8 passenger seats, which is provided for hire with the services of a driver for the purpose of carrying passengers.

Private hire vehicles include a range of vehicles including executive cars, chauffeur services, limousines and some school and day centre transport services. All private hire vehicle journeys must be pre booked via a licensed private hire vehicle operator and are subject to a 'triple licensing lock' i.e. the operator fulfilling the booking must use vehicles and drivers licensed by the same authority as that which granted its licence. A private hire vehicle cannot legally stand at a hackney carriage stand or be hailed in the street by members of the public

• Private hire vehicle specifications refer to Appendix G, Appendix Hand Appendix I.
• CCTV in vehicles refer to Appendix L.
• Consideration of Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands, Warnings, Complaints and Character refer to Appendix E.
• Enforcement, Discipline & Offences refer to Appendix F..

Hackney Carriage Vehicles

A hackney carriage is a public transport vehicle with no more than 8 passenger seats, which is licensed to "ply for hire". This means that it may stand at a hackney carriage stand or be hailed in the street by members of the public. A hackney carriage vehicle is required to have a numbered plate fixed upon it and are commonly referred to as 'Taxis'.

• Hackney carriage vehicle specifications refer to Appendix G, Appendix J, Appendix I and Appendix K.
• CCTV in vehicles refer to Appendix L..
• Consideration of Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands, Warnings, Complaints and Character refer to Appendix E.
• Enforcement, Discipline & Offences refer to Appendix F..

Hackney Carriage Stands

The stand is the only situation where a hackney carriage may ply for hire in a stationary position. It is an offence for any person to cause or permit any vehicle other than a hackney carriage to wait on any hackney carriage stand. Drivers who park on a stand and leave their hackney carriage vehicle unattended commit an offence. A full list of current stands can be found on the Council website.

New and replacement Hackney Carriage Vehicles

All new applications for hackney carriage vehicle licences are required to be wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Hackney carriage vehicles which are currently licensed can be replaced with a like for like vehicle, for example:

• wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs) can be replaced with another WAV which complies with current policy
• saloon vehicles (5 seats) can be replaced with another Saloon which complies with current policy
• multi Passenger Vehicles (MPVs) (more than 5 seats) can be replaced with another MPV which complies with current policy

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs)

WAVs that are currently licensed may only be replaced with a like for like vehicle e.g. another WAV that complies with current policy. Departure from policy in exceptional circumstances e.g. medical grounds will be considered on a case by case basis. The Hackney carriage and private hire trade will continue to be encouraged to licence a proportion of their fleet as wheelchair accessible vehicles. 

• Wheelchair accessible vehicle specifications refer to Appendix G, Appendix H,  Appendix J and Appendix I.
• CCTV in vehicles refer to Appendix L.
• Consideration of Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands, Warnings, Complaints and Character refer to Appendix E.
• Enforcement, Discipline & Offences refer to Appendix F.

Novelty vehicles and stretched limousines

Applications in respect of novelty vehicles and stretched limousines will be determined on their individual merits.

• Novelty and stretched limousine vehicle specifications refer to Appendix G, Appendix H and Appendix I.
• CCTV in vehicles refer to Appendix L.
• Consideration of Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands, Warnings, Complaints and Character refer to Appendix E.
• Enforcement, Discipline & Offences refer to Appendix F.

Application Procedure

New vehicle licence application

Apply online with the following documents:

• Vehicle application form, this must be from a named person(s)
• Vehicle test certificate - pass (Certificate Of Compliance). An application for a new or replacement vehicle will only be accepted with a certificate of compliance issued by the testing centre, dated no more than 28 days prior to the submission of the application.
• DVLA vehicle registration document (V5C) 
• A certificate of motor insurance, which must be valid on the commencement date of the licence
• A current MOT certificate if applicable, depending on the age of the vehicle, which must be valid on the commencement date of the licence. Note that once a vehicle is 12 months old, a valid MOT is required
• DBS Basic Disclosure of proprietor / directors / partners (for applicants who are not licensed drivers)
• Licence fee

Vehicle Renewal Application

Apply online with the following documents:

• Vehicle renewal application form in the name of the vehicle proprietor
• A certificate of motor insurance, which must be valid on the commencement date of the licence
• DBS Basic Disclosure of proprietor / directors / partners (for applicants who are not licensed drivers)
• Licence fee

Trailers And Tow Bars

Applications to permit the use of trailers for the carriage of luggage and/or personal effects will be considered on their individual merits. Any trailer authorised for the carriage of luggage and/or personal effects must display the authorised towing vehicle registration plate and the licence plate issued by the Council.

Insurance

Vehicles that have been deemed to be an insurance "write off" (i.e. in accident damage category A, B, C, or S) and/or endorsed as being "accident damaged" on their V5 document will not be licensed. Licenced vehicles deemed to be an insurance "write-off" (i.e. in accident damage category A, B, C, or S) and/or have their V5 document endorsed as being 'accident damaged' will have their licence revoked but can be replaced with a like for like vehicle to the one that was deemed an insurance write off.

Vehicle And Meter Testing

All vehicles shall undergo an inspection by the Council's appointed vehicle examiners at initial application and thereafter every six months. Any vehicles failing this test will be required to have a retest, unless it has been agreed by an Authorised Officer that it is not necessary. A test failure will result in either the issuing of a Vehicle Defect Rectification Notice or if appropriate the suspension of the vehicle licence.

Vehicle testing arrangements refer to Appendix M.

Exemptions From Displaying Licence Plates On A Private Hire Vehicle

Proprietors of private hire vehicles used mainly for executive hire or novelty vehicles and stretched limousines will be permitted to apply for a 12-month exemption from the requirement to display a licence plate and the driver from wearing a driver's badge.

Vehicle licence plate exemptions refer to Appendix N.

Horse Drawn Hackney Carriages

Applications for horse drawn hackney carriages will be considered on their individual merits. The Council will follow the Code of Practice for Horse Drawn Vehicles.

• Horse drawn hackney carriage conditions refer to Appendix O.
• Consideration of Convictions, Cautions, Reprimands, Warnings, Complaints and Character refer to Appendix E.
• Enforcement, Discipline & Offences refer to Appendix F.

 Horse Drawn Hackney Carriage Application Procedure

Apply online with the following documents:

• Application form
• DBS Basic Disclosure of proprietor / directors / partners (applicants who are not licensed drivers)
• Approved road driving assessment by either the British Driving Society or the Heavy Horse Training Committee pass certificate (fee responsibility of applicant)
• Proof of Council approved vet inspection of carriages, tack and horses (fee responsibility of applicant)
• Suitable horse related qualification certificate
• Hackney carriage vehicle and public liability insurance
• Licence fee