Vehicles

Vehicles used for hire and reward with up to eight passenger seats must be licensed by a local authority as either a hackney carriage or a private hire vehicle.

Before a vehicle is licensed it must be:

• of an approved type
• pass a vehicle safety test
• be appropriately insured

Vehicles under 4 years are tested annually. Vehicles over 4 years are tested annually and have an interim test approximately 6 months into the licence.

The cost of vehicle testing is included in the licence fee but an additional fee will be charged for any re-test or missed test (including any test you cancel without giving at least 48 hours notice).

We currently limit the number of hackney carriage licences we issue and because of this a new application for a licence is likely to be refused if this limit has been met. If the limit has not been met and hackney carriage licences are available, they will only be available for wheelchair-accessible vehicles. There is no limit on the number of private hire vehicle licences we can issue.

Sometimes, an application may be put before the Regulation and review committee for a decision to grant a licence. If this happens you will be given written notice and invited to attend committee to speak if you want to.

If a vehicle licence is surrendered, we will refund one quarter of the licence fee for each complete 3 month period remaining, minus the vehicle test fees. If we revoke or suspend a licence for any reason we will not make a refund.

There are two parts to the application - the vehicle specification and application form.