Summary
This page contains information on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licenses. It includes information on how to apply for a vehicle licence, the cost of licence fees, what standards of fitness are required for the vehicles plus details of the new byelaws affecting hackney carriage vehicles.
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Attachments
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There are two types of vehicle licensing:
• Private Hire
• Hackney Carriage
Private Hire Vehicle
A private hire vehicle must be pre-booked through a licensed private hire operator before a member of the public can use this vehicle for a journey. These vehicles cannot be flagged down in the street nor can they use designated taxi ranks.
Hackney Carriage
A Hackney Carriage Licence is a permission to use a particular vehicle for the carriage of passengers for hire and reward.
A Hackney Carriage may ply for hire using a lit roof light upon the Queen's Highway, or ply on a designated taxi rank.
Hackney Carriage Byelaws
New Byelaws relating to the control of taxi meters and prescribed fares were introduced on 3 September 2007.
To view these byelaws, use the following link.
Any person driving a licensed vehicle in Oadby & Wigston must also be licensed as a Private Hire/Hackney Carriage Combined Driver| by Oadby and Wigston Licensing Section
Application Process
In order to qualify for a licence to enable a vehicle to operate as a Hackney Carriage or a Private Hire Vehicle, the vehicle must be inspected by a Council approved testing station. The test station will issue a Vehicle Inspection Report that will indicate if the vehicle has passed or failed the inspection.
A vehicle may be presented for inspection to one of the following two garages:-
Leicester City Testing Station (formerly Leicester Citybus) on Cobden Street, Leicester (telephone 0116 251 9185),
or,
Arriva Fox County Ltd, Station Street, South Wigston (telephone 0116 278 0200).
Once the vehicle has passed the inspection, you will need to produce:
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the vehicle inspection report, which the garage will issue to you,
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the log book (V5c) for the vehicle,
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and a current certificate of insurance or valid cover note
Application Forms
If you wish to apply for a vehicle licence you will need to complete the application form which can be downloaded by clicking the link below:
You can also obtain an application form, either by telephone: 0116 257 2732 or e-mail: licensing@oadby-wigston.gov.uk ||.
When you contact us please provide us with the following information:
-
the type of application you wish to make
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the name and address of the person to whom the forms are to be sent
-
contact telephone and email details
Once you are ready to proceed with your application.
You may may send the form and and other documents back to us via post addressed for the attention of the:
Licensing Section
Oadby and Wigston Borough Council
Station Road
Wigston
Leicestershire
LE18 2DR
Or visit the Council offices in person and submit your application to a member of our Customer Services Team.
No appointment is necessary to visit our Customer Service Team, who are able during normal Council working hours to make a preliminary check of your application and documents and instruct on fees payments and or provide help with completing the application forms before the they are finally presented to the Licensing Team for processing.
Current licence fees are as follows:-
Hackney Carriage Licence
From 1st April 2008, £185.00 (excluding test fees)
Private Hire Vehicle Licence
From 1st April 2008, £185.00 (excluding test fees)
Required Standards
Fire Extinguisher
There shall be provided and maintained in the vehicle at all times when it is in use or available for hire a suitable and efficient fire extinguisher which conforms to the current British Standard (BS5423) (minimum capacity 1 litre).
The fire extinguisher should be mounted on brackets in a convenient position in the driver’s compartment, if practicable. Otherwise the extinguisher should be mounted on brackets in the boot. The vehicle licence number shall be marked on the extinguisher.
First Aid Kit
A suitable First Aid kit must be provided in the vehicle. The vehicle licence number must be marked on the First Aid kit.
M.O.T Items
The Vehicle should have a valid M.O.T certifcate and have passed all items relating to the test. The vehicle should be roadworthy and likely to remain so for the duration of the licence.
Vehicle Inspection Report
All Vehicle Inspection Reports must be submitted within two weeks of when the vehicle passed the test.
Road Test
Vehicle should perform normally in a road test. Normal acceleration. No undue noise. Ride should be comfortable and smooth. No fault should be permitted which could detrimentally affect the comfort of the passenger.
Operation of doors/windows
The operation of doors and windows should be smooth and without hindrance or inconvenience. All components should fit and operate normally with manufacturer’s specifications.
Vehicle Structure
Vehicle structure should be in such condition that no failure or serious corrosion of any load bearing members is likely during the period for which the vehicle is to be licenced (one year) (i.e the vehicle should look as if it is safe for at least one year, given the circumstances of its use as a hire vehicle).
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