Vehicle licences

Vehicle licences

Vehicles that are being used for taxi or private hire work, that can seat up to eight passengers, must be licensed by us.

Vehicles that can carry nine or more passengers must apply for a public service vehicle (PSV) operator’s licence.

Hackney Carriage vehicle licence

Hackney carriages are the only type of licenced vehicle that can be called a taxi. Taxis can wait on designated taxi ranks or be flagged down or hailed on the street. Taxis must comply with the maximum taxi fares in operation across the district.

Send your completed form to licensing.team@threerivers.gov.uk. You will need to include the following documents with your application:

• a valid MOT test pass certificate
• a valid compliance test pass certificate issued by one of our designated garages (PDF)
• proof of ownership of the vehicle (a vehicle registration document V5C/new keepers slip (V5C/2) or a bill of sale plus V5C/2 OR a hire purchase agreement (if the vehicle is on hire purchase))
• a valid insurance certificate covering the driver for hire and reward and third-party risks to passengers
• a calibration certificate showing that taximeter has been calibrated, sealed and correctly tariffed
• any other documents stated as required on the application form

You will need to pay the relevant fee with your application by calling customer services on 01923 776611.

Maintaining your licence

Licences will be granted within 28 days of us receiving a valid and complete application. Licences are valid for one year and must be renewed four weeks before they expire.

As the licence holder, you must inform us of:

• any change of name or address
• any accidents involving the vehicle
• any changes to the specification of the vehicle (for example, a change in the vehicles colour, structure, personalised number plate or capacity). Please note that there is a fee to pay to change a vehicles specifications.

You must also tell us if you sell a licenced vehicle.

Identification plates

After your vehicle licence application has been granted, you will receive a vehicle plate that you must affix to the back of the vehicle and a smaller plate that must be displayed inside the vehicle. This identification plate states the maximum number of passengers permitted in the vehicle at any one time. Exceeding the maximum number of passengers may void the motor insurance for a journey.

All taxis licensed by us must display a roof sign bearing the word ‘Taxi’.

Private hire vehicle licence

Private hire vehicles are vehicles that can only be hired by pre-booking the journey through a licensed private hire operator. They include chauffeur-driven hire cars, executive hire vehicles, stretch limousines and small school transport vehicles.

Send your completed form to licensing.team@threerivers.gov.uk. You will need to include the following documents with your application:

• a valid MOT test pass certificate
• a valid compliance test pass certificate issued by one of our designated garages (PDF)
• proof of ownership of the vehicle (a vehicle registration document V5C/new keepers slip (V5C/2) OR a bill of sale plus V5C/2 OR a hire purchase agreement (if the vehicle is on hire purchase))
• a valid insurance certificate covering the driver for hire and reward and third-party risks to passengers
• a calibration certificate showing that taximeter (if fitted) has been calibrated and sealed
• any other documents stated as required on the application form

You will need to pay the relevant fee with your application by calling customer services on 01923 776611.

Maintaining your licence

Licences will be granted within 28 days of us receiving a valid and complete application. Licences are valid for one year and must be renewed four weeks before they expire.

As the licence holder, you must inform us of:

• any change of name or address
• any accidents involving the vehicle
• any changes to the specification of the vehicle (for example, a change in the vehicles colour, structure, personalised number plate or capacity. Please note that you will need to pay a fee to change a vehicles specifications)

You must also tell us if you sell a licenced private hire vehicle.

Identification plates

After your vehicle licence application has been granted, you will receive a vehicle plate that you must affix to the back of the vehicle and a smaller plate that must be displayed inside the vehicle. This identification plate states the maximum number of passengers permitted in the vehicle at any one time. Exceeding the maximum number of passengers may void the motor insurance for a journey.

You can apply for an exemption from this requirement if your vehicle is primarily or exclusively used for chauffeured (executive) private hire work.

You will need to pay the relevant fee when submitting your application.

If your request is granted, you will not need to display a vehicle plate on the back of your vehicle. You must still display a plate in the front windscreen and wear your driver’s badge at all times. You will need to reapply for the exemption when the plate expires.

Licensed vehicle requirements and conditions

All vehicles must meet the requirements set out in our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2022 to be granted a licence.

Insurance write-off vehicles

We do not license any category write-off vehicles. We suggest having an HPI check performed on any vehicle you are considering purchasing. An HPI check is a comprehensive vehicle check that provides information on outstanding finance, accident history, number of previous owners any other information about the vehicle.

If your existing licensed vehicle is involved in an accident, you must report it to us within 72 hours. If your insurance company decides the vehicle is written off, you will not be able to use it for taxi or private hire work.

Age of vehicles

A vehicle must generally be less than seven years old according to its registration document to be granted a licence. This age requirement may be disapplied if a vehicle complies with all acceptable standards.

Vehicles 10 years and over must pass three compliance tests each year (approximately every four months) to be eligible for a licence.

MOT and compliance check

All vehicles aged three years and over must undergo an annual MOT check. Vehicles must also have a valid compliance test pass certificate issued by one of our designated garages (PDF).

If a licensed vehicle fails an MOT or compliance check, it must be removed from service immediately and only returned once a valid check has been provided to our licensing team. Our licensing offers carry out random checks throughout the year to check vehicles comply with these requirements.

Smoking in licensed vehicles

It is an offence to smoke or vape inside a licensed vehicle. This applies to both passengers and drivers, including when a vehicle is not being used to transport passengers.

Licensed private hire and taxi vehicles must display a ‘no smoking’ sign inside the vehicle. Licensed vehicles that do not display a valid sign can be subject to a fine of up to £1,000. For more information, see the GOV.UK website.

Drivers or passengers found to be smoking in a licensed private hire vehicle or taxi can receive a fixed penalty notice of £50 or a maximum fine of £200 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.

Report an accident involving a licensed vehicle

License holders must report accidents involving a licensed vehicle with 72 hours of an incident.

Find out more on our Report an accident involving a licensed vehicle page.

Change the name or address on a licence

It's important that you notify us about any changes, as your licence(s) will need to be updated and reprinted. If your name or address has changed you must apply to change it on all of the licences that you hold (driver and/or vehicle). Use our online form to update your licence(s). At the end of the form we'll ask you to make payment by credit or debit card, so please have your card details to hand.

We'll ask you to upload evidence of your new details (for example, your updated DVLA licence, V5 logbook, vehicle insurance certificate etc.)

Replace a lost, stolen or damaged vehicle licence or plates

If your vehicle licence plates are lost, stolen or damaged you must apply for a replacement.

You will need to pay the relevant fee when submitting your application.

We will process your request within three working days of receiving your application.