Private Hire Vehicle policy
Licensing criteria
Vehicle licences will be issued for a maximum of 12 months. Private Hire vehicles may only undertake journeys in response to advance bookings. These bookings must be undertaken by an operator who in return is required to hold a Private Hire Operator's Licence.
The following criteria will be checked before a vehicle licence is issued:
| Licensing criteria | Required standard |
|---|---|
| Proof of Registered Keeper (V5 Registration Document) | An applicant for a vehicle licence must be the registered keeper of the vehicle.
|
| Vehicle Fitness standards | A satisfactory vehicle inspection report following an inspection by an Authorised Officer/Agent of the Council together with proof that the vehicle meets current MOT standards. All vehicles licensed by the Borough Council require inspection at an approved garage (a list of approved garages can be found on the vehicle application form). [see Appendix V of the Handbook] All vehicles over 5 years (date as shown on DVLA V5 registration document) shall have a vehicle compliance test at an approved Vehicle Testing Station every 6 months. |
| A current vehicle insurance certificate | To enable us to licence a vehicle we require sight of an original valid insurance policy, and schedule or cover note for that vehicle covering the vehicle for Hackney Carriage work. Emailed copies of insurance documents are acceptable. It shall be the responsibility of the proprietor of a licensed vehicle to produce proof of continuous insurance cover. The insurance proof is to be reviewed by the licensing authority within seven days of the expiry of the preceding certificate or cover note. If the proprietor fails to produce a certificate of insurance cover on request he/she shall produce it forthwith or within seven clear days of the request to an authorised officer of the Borough Council. Failure to comply may result in the immediate suspension of the vehicle licence by authorised officers. The suspension will remain in place until a satisfactory certificate of insurance is produced. Any driver insured to drive a licensed vehicle must hold a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Drivers Licence |
| Valid excise licence for the vehicle | All vehicles are required to be taxed. |
| Basic DBS check | Proprietors of vehicles will be required to undertake a Basic DBS Check. (If the owner is also a Hackney Carriage driver with the authority then this Pre-requisite will not be required) |
| Completed application form | |
| Payment of correct fee | Current Licence fees |
Vehicle specification
The Borough Council will not grant or renew a licence unless satisfied that the vehicle is suitable to be a licensed vehicle, is in a suitable mechanical condition, safe and comfortable. Only vehicles which meet the following specification will be considered for licensing.
| Licensing criteria | Required standards |
|---|---|
| Maximum no of passengers is 8 | Motor vehicles constructed or adapted to seat not more than eight (8) passengers. If the applicant wishes to licence a vehicle with above eight (8) passengers, they must contact the Traffic Commissioner's Office |
| The council will not allow vehicles to be licensed for dual purposes or by more than one authority | No vehicle will be granted a licence if it is licensed in another District due to the problems of meeting the variance in conditions applied in different Districts and the enforcement of those conditions in cases of non-compliance (i.e. signs, meters, suspensions or revocation. |
| Hackney carriage vehicle requirements | Any new plate shall be a brand new purpose built vehicle for the performance as a Hackney Carriage which has been fully tested to M1 category. Such vehicle cannot be replaced unless it is replaced with at least an equivalent specification but newer purpose built model that is still less than 9 years old on initial registration. All vehicles shall be so constructed as to facilitate the carriage of people with disabilities and must be capable of accommodating a person in a wheelchair in the passenger compartment, provided the wheelchair fits within the dimensions specified below. Suitable means shall be provided to assist persons to rise from the rear seats with particular attention to the needs of people with disabilities. Grab handles shall be placed at door entrances to assist the elderly and people with disabilities. |
| Age limit | Vehicles should not exceed nine years of age on initial registration. There is no renewal limit providing the Council's licensing conditions continue to be complied with (The age of the vehicle to be taken from the vehicle registration document) |
| Engine size | The Borough Council encourages the use of eco-friendly vehicles. No minimum engine capacity is required; however please note the seating requirements with respect to the size of vehicle to be licensed. |
| Hatchback type vehicles | The hatch will not be considered or counted as a door for means of entry or exit. |
| Saloon type vehicles | Estate versions of saloon vehicles fitted with seats in the rear luggage compartment will be licensed for a maximum of 4 passengers |
| Seating | Where separate seats for each person are provided, one person shall be counted for each separate seat where the vehicle is fitted with continuous seats, one person shall be counted for each completed length of 40.7cm (16") measured in a straight line along the front of each seat. Where continuous seating is fitted with arms for separating the seating spaces and they can be folded back or put out of use, the seats shall be measured as if the arms had not been fitted; any passenger(s) carried in the front of a vehicle must have separate seat(s) from the driver; the number of seats for which the vehicle is to be plated will be decided by the Borough Council's Authorised Officer/Testing Agent and will be based upon the items above and the bylaws. Any additional seating in the vehicle must be removed and the fixings plated over to prevent re-instatement, before the grant of a licence; wheelchair accessible vehicles will have the seating capacity determined for fixed seating and separately for passengers carried in wheelchairs. All passenger seats must face forward or rearward to the direction of travel. The vehicle must have seats with a minimum width of not less than 400mm per person. The vehicle shall be fitted with appropriate seatbelts to the front and rear seats of the vehicle. |
| Wheels | Normal saloon type vehicles must be fitted with four road wheels and be right-hand drive. |
| Luggage | Luggage space must be a minimum of 0.5 m3 and be physically separated from the passenger seating. |
| Health and Safety | All motorised vehicles must be equipped with an operational fire extinguisher and a first aid kit (to comply with Health & Safety (First Aid) Regulations 1981). |
| Doors | The vehicle shall have four side opening doors (designed for the purpose of permitting persons access to/from the interior) - any lift-up tailgate shall not be included; or a vehicle shall have three side opening doors (designed for the purpose of permitting persons access to/from the interior) and two rear opening doors (designed for the purpose of permitting persons access to/from the interior). Vehicles constructed with less than 4 doors may be considered for licensing as Private Hire Vehicles or Special Event Vehicles. Any vehicle's suitability for licensing will also be determined by the positioning of its seating, fittings and fixtures for the ingress and egress of passengers and their safety. |
| Windows | Tinted Windows. - no glass, with the exception of a tinted sun-strip along the top of the windscreen, shall be tinted to such an extent as to obscure the view of the inside of the vehicle under normal workshop lighting conditions from a distance of 4 metres. Stretched Limousines are exempt from this requirement |
| M1 category | The vehicle must have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval (ECWVTA) and must show category M1 on the V5C/logbook. If these requirements cannot be satisfied, or if the vehicle has been altered from the original manufacturers specification, then a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Individual Vehicle approval (IVA) or Voluntary Individual Vehicle Approval (VIVA) inspection must be undertaken, and a satisfactory report produced. |
| Appearance | The appearance of a Private Hire vehicle must not lead people to believe it is a Hackney Carriage Vehicle. |
| Wheelchair accessible vehicles | Wheelchair accessible vehicles shall be properly equipped with properly mounted fittings for the safe securing of a wheelchair and a passenger seated in it, when carried in the vehicle. If a mechanical hoist is fitted to the vehicle this will be required to be inspected annually by the manufacturer or his approved agent and a certificate produced to that effect. |
| Body work | Exterior Bodywork and Wheel trims - the bodywork of the vehicle shall be in good condition, be free from major rust, dents and scratches and shall be as originally fitted by the manufacturer. Wheel trims must be fitted to all road wheels where part of the manufacturer's original specification. |
| Interior | Upholstery - all upholstery shall be clean and in a well-maintained condition. No tear, crack, hole or burn will be acceptable other than 'fair, wear & tear'. Upholstery includes seats, headrests, armrests, carpets and other trim. |
| Fixtures and fittings | All fittings shall be properly maintained and in good working order. Fittings include clocks, interior lights, sun blinds, door surrounds, grab handles, other equipment provided for passenger comfort and any equipment in, on or forming part of the vehicle including wheelchair ramps and securing fitments. |
Vehicle fitness standard
The inspection is to determine that the vehicle is in roadworthy condition and meets the standards required by the Borough Council to be a licensed vehicle; in accordance with national best practice and the requirements contained in this handbook. [see Appendix V]
No vehicle shall be first licensed or re-licensed unless the vehicle has passed the vehicle inspection at one of the Borough Council's approved testing stations. All Hackney Carriage & Private Hire vehicles after 5 years (date as shown on DVLA V5 registration document) shall have a vehicle compliance test at an approved Vehicle Testing Station every 6 months.
The Borough Council will not grant/renew a vehicle licence unless the person examining it (on behalf of the Borough Council) has confirmed that it meets the standards specified in this Handbook and, at the same time, the vehicle has been certified roadworthy to MOT standard and has a current MOT certificate.
Vehicles of a class that are not subject to 'EU Type approval' and are being tested for the first time will be additionally tested to ensure tyres and any other aspect of the vehicle are safe and mechanically sound for the benefit of passengers.
Costs of such testing is payable by the person wishing to licence the vehicle. In addition the history of the vehicle may be taken into consideration when determining whether the vehicle should be licensed.
The 6 monthly compliance test certificate required for vehicles over 5 years old (see above) must be produced to the Borough Council within 7 days of the date of the test. Tests can be carried out by an approved testing station up to one calendar month before the 6 monthly point of the licence.
A vehicle which fails an inspection or safety check during the currency of a licence with the Borough Council will have the fault(s) rectified and the vehicle re-inspected at the same testing station within 2 months of the original inspection - failure to do so will lead to the automatic revocation of the vehicle licence.
A vehicle may be inspected by an authorised officer of the Borough Council or a Police Officer, at any reasonable time. If the person inspecting the vehicle is not satisfied as to the fitness of the vehicle he may give written notice to the proprietor/Operator to make the vehicle available for further inspection and testing at such reasonable time and place as may be specified and the vehicle licence may be suspended until the authorised officer or police officer is so satisfied. If the authorised officer or police officer is not satisfied within two months of the initial inspection the Vehicle licence shall be deemed revoked. An authorised officer or police officer may permit other persons to examine the vehicle on their behalf (e.g. DVSA).
The vehicle must be inspected and a satisfactory report issued by the Borough Councils appointed testing agent within one month preceding the application for a vehicle licence or renewal of a vehicle licence.
The requirement for Inspection applies to all vehicles, including those newly registered.
All vehicles being presented for testing at the approved Borough Council testing station shall be in clean condition to allow the tester to inspect the vehicle. The tester may refuse to test a vehicle that does not conform to this requirement.
Vehicle replacement
Where a licensed vehicle is off the road due to accident damage, subject to satisfactory documentary evidence being produced to the authorised officer, the Borough Council will allow a replacement vehicle that meets the Borough Council's criteria for a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
Once repaired, a new vehicle inspection report may be required.
A replacement vehicle must have a current certificate of insurance or cover note which covers the use of the vehicle.
Annual renewal
Vehicle renewal applications will be accepted up to one calendar month before they are due to expire providing the MOT certificate or Compliance Test Certificate is no more than 3 calendar months older than the renewal date. Vehicle licences will not be granted an earlier renewal date than their current expiry date. Vehicle Registration documents (V5C) are not required to be produced upon renewal of a vehicle licence, providing there has been no material changes to that vehicle/document during the proceeding licence period.
- vehicles must comply with all prerequisites
- applications must be made in good time to enable all formalities to be completed#
- no licence will be issued unless the application is complete with all documents, information and the payment required. Incomplete applications will be returned to applicants
- applications made after the expiry date will be considered as new applications and not a renewal
Altered vehicles
Any vehicle which has been altered from the original manufacturer's specification, re-registered or has been an insurance loss (categories N and S only) shall only be considered for licensing if the vehicle has been subjected to a satisfactory Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) or Voluntary Individual Vehicle Approval (VIVA) test (engineers report) from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) Vehicles without a DVSA engineers report will only be considered for licensing if they have been built to the manufacturers original specification. The IVA test is appropriate for vehicles not previously registered in the UK, and a VIVA for vehicles registered in the UK that need to prove compliance.
Category A and B write offs will not be considered fit for licensing
Wheelchair accessible hire vehicles
There are a growing number of wheelchair accessible vehicles which are licensed by the Borough Council. All new Hackney Carriage Vehicles registered with the Borough Council must be wheelchair accessible.
Sections 165 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010 require drivers of designated wheelchair accessible taxis and private hire vehicles to:
- carry the passenger while in the wheelchair
- to not make any additional charge for doing so
- carry the wheelchair, if the passenger chooses to sit in a passenger seat
- take such steps as are necessary to ensure that the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort
- give the passenger such mobility assistance as is reasonably required
The Act then goes on to define mobility assistance as giving assistance:
- to enable the passenger to get into or out of the vehicle
- to enable the passenger to get in and out of the vehicle while in a wheelchair
- to load the passenger's luggage into or out of the vehicle
- to load the wheelchair into or out of the vehicle should the passenger not wish to remain in the wheelchair
A list of all wheelchair accessible vehicles will be maintained in accordance with Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010 on the Licensing webpage. This list will be periodically updated based on the details given at the time of vehicle licensing.
Permitting or Employing any other person to drive
Before any proprietor of a vehicle permits or employs any person to drive his/her vehicle, he/she shall ensure that the vehicle is adequately insured for that person to drive and produce evidence of that insurance for inspection by any person permitted or employed to drive.
If the proprietor of a vehicle permits or employs any other person to drive his/her vehicle, he/she shall, before the person commences driving, cause the driver to give him/her Licence to Drive for retention until such time as the driver ceases to be permitted or employed to drive a licensed vehicle owned by the proprietor.
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