Vehicle licences for taxis or private hire vehicles
Outside London
You must get your taxi or private hire vehicle inspected and licensed by your local council.
Apply
Contact your local council to apply for a vehicle licence.
Eligibility
You must get a licence for each vehicle. The vehicle must have no more than 8 passenger seats.
Inspections and insurance
The council may check your vehicle to make sure:
- it’s roadworthy
- it’s comfortable and clean
- the taximeter works properly
- the doors are safe and secure
You’ll also need insurance that:
- covers you for hire and reward
- includes you as the named driver
The council decides how often it tests vehicles but can’t test more than 3 times in a year.
You must fix any problems within 2 months of failing a test. You can lose your vehicle licence if you don’t.
Conditions
The council can attach conditions to vehicle licences. These might include:
- the colour scheme of your vehicle
- the use of roof signs
- use of a taximeter
Refusals and appeals
The council can refuse your application if:
- your vehicle doesn’t meet certain criteria
- you don’t accept conditions it gives you
- it wants to control the number of taxis in the area
When the council makes its decision it will explain your right to appeal if:
- your application for a vehicle licence has been refused
- the licensing authority has suspended, revoked or refused to renew a vehicle licence
You appeal to a crown court about a taxi licence decision or to a magistrates court about a private hire vehicle decision.