In addition to holding a licence to operate as a driver, any vehicle you use will also need to be licensed with the Council before it can be used as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
Before we issue you with a vehicle licence your car will need to undergo a test to assess whether it is suitable to be used as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
Tests are carried out once a year and every 6 months once the vehicle is over 5 years old. The test is subject to a fee and carried out by our vehicle depot.
On 24 January 2018 the Licensing Committee agreed to introduce a revised
Private Hire and Hackney Carriage compliance testing standard. The new standard will begin on 1 March 2018 meaning all vehicles tested after this date must meet this new standard.
Applying for a vehicle licence
Please complete the relevant application form. Details of the information you need to include with your application including the fee are included on the form.
Operator Licence - Private Hire
Anyone who accepts or invites bookings for private hire vehicles must have a private hire operator's licence. A licensed private hire driver cannot accept a fare unless it has been booked through a licensed operator. The public will make the contract with them even if the operator does not provide the vehicle or driver.
Once you have been granted an operator's licence you can then employ any number of licensed vehicles and drivers, a licensed private hire driver is not allowed to accept a booking unless they hold a an operator licence or work for a licensed private hire operator.
An operator is required to keep a register of all bookings taken, these may be inspected by the Police or the Council at any time.
Applying for an operator licence
Please complete the
application form. Details of the information you need to include with your application are on the form.
Once you have completed the form then please either return it in person to our public desk or post it to our offices.
Accidents
All accidents must be reported in writing to licensing within 72 hours of the accident. Please complete the
accident report form and return to licensing.
Online Register
If you wish to see further information on licences granted you can view these on the
online register