You need a licence to use a vehicle as a hackney carriage.
A hackney carriage can be used for the carriage of passengers for hire and reward and can be hailed by passengers on the roadside, it can stand on a rank to await the approach of passengers and can be pre-booked.
Renew your licence
When renewing your licence, the vehicle must be less than 12 years old.
You must include the following with the completed form:
- application fee
- a copy of your insurance certificate
- a basic DBS check for every proprietor or company director
Click here to renew your licence online
Apply for a new licence
When applying for a new licence, vehicles must be less than 6 years old and must be white in colour. For a full list of the acceptable specification, refer to the Licensing Policy (see below).
You must include the following with the completed form:
- application fee
- a copy of your insurance certificate
- a basic DBS check for every proprietor or company director
- Log book or 'new keeper supplement' (or bill of sale)
Click here to apply for a new licence online
Fees and charges
You can make a licensing payment on the Council's payments page, please select Licensing from the payment types. Your reference is your vehicle number beginning with PHV.
Alternatively, payments can be made by telephone on 01642 774774 (select option 4 to speak to a Customer Services representative).
- New application - £330
- Renewal application - £309
- Variation application - £57
- Change of registration plate - £57
- Replacement door sign - £10 for one
- Replacement door signs - £15 for a pair
- Replacement stickers - £1 each (add £4.50 delivery unless ordering with a renewal application)
- Vehicle tests (fail to attend, retest, full fails) - £66
Basic DBS check
All proprietors are required to produce an annual Basic DBS disclosure unless they are currently licensed as a taxi driver.
In the case of a company or partnership, a basic disclosure must be provided by all directors or partners. You can request a Basic DBS check on the GOV.UK website.
Vehicle inspections
The vehicle must be inspected by the Council's nominated testing centre before a licence is granted and again within 6 months of a licence being granted.
On receipt of an application from you, we will schedule both tests and you will receive confirmation of the test dates. If you fail to attend any inspection, or fail to give us 48 hours notice of a cancellation, you will be required to pay for a new test.
Insurance
Your vehicle must be insured to carry out public hire (and optionally) private hire work at all times and you are required to provide evidence of valid insurance with each application on request by a licensing officer.
Fares for hackney carriages
The hackney carriage table of fares is set by the Council and is the maximum fare that can be charged by hackney carriage drivers. Drivers are permitted to charge less than the displayed fare but the meter must be engaged at all times. The fares are as follows:
- Tariff 1 (From 6.00 a.m. until midnight on any day except on a public Bank Holiday or all hirings on 24th and 31st December) is £3.50 for the first mile or part thereof and then £0.20 for each 1/10 of a mile thereafter
- Tariff 2 (From midnight until 6.00am on any day, all hirings on a public Bank Holiday and the 24th and 31st December) is £4.00 for the first mile or part thereof and then £0.25 for each 1/10 of a mile thereafter
There are also the following charges which apply to both tariffs:
- Waiting time per minute £0.10
- Soiling charge £30.00
- Luggage tariff per item £0.05
- For every journey with 5 or more passengers £1.00
Log book
When applying for a new vehicle, you are required to provide a copy of your vehicle registration document (log book).
The log book should be in the name of the proprietor of the vehicle.
If you have not received the log book in your name, we will accept a 'new keeper supplement' or other proof of ownership, such as a bill of sale or invoice. You will need to provide the log book as soon as you receive it.
MOT certificate
Hackney carriages are required to have an MOT certificate regardless of age. We check the status of your MOT certificate on the GOV.UK website.
Plates, signs and door signs
You will be issued with a rear and front plate, door signs and a complaints sticker which must be displayed in or on the vehicle at all times. Replacements can be ordered for a fee by contacting the team by email.
Transfer of ownership
If you transfers your interest in a vehicle to somebody else, you must give notice of the transfer in writing to us within 14 days by completing the 'Notice of transfer' form.