If you are unable to reach a member of the Licensing Team, please contact our Customer Services team on 0116 288 8961

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licence

A private hire vehicle must be booked in advance 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.

Any person driving a licensed vehicle in Oadby and Wigston must also be licensed as a private hire/hackney carriage combined driver by Oadby and Wigston Borough Council.

For further details, customers are advised to consult the Council's Policy on the hackney carriage and private hire licensing.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023 (PDF Document, 543.52 Kb)

Please also read: Statutory Guidance - Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Standards (PDF Document, 277.37 Kb)

You can read the temporary policy for use of protective screens here: Use of Protective Screens in Private Hire and Hackney Vehicles (PDF Document, 145.97 Kb)

In response to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, the Department for Transport has developed guidance for the safe and appropriate fitting of separating screens between the front and rear of a taxi or private hire vehicle.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licences

The difference between Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles is not commonly known to members of the public.

A Hackney Carriage may ‘ply for hire’ from an appointed “taxi” or Hackney Carriage stand or rank within the district in which it is licensed. It may also be hailed and booked from a public street in that district.

A Private Hire Vehicle may only undertake journeys booked in advance.

Hackney Carriages or Private Hire Vehicles licensed by Oadby and Wigston Borough Council must display internal and external licence plates at all times in a position approved by the Council. Hackney Carriages display a blue plate and Private Hire vehicles display an orange plate.

The Council’s policy on vehicles exists for the reasons of Public Safety to ensure that the standard of vehicle remain suitable for the safe transport of members of the public.

The following age limits apply:

  • Vehicles to be licensed for the first time must be under six years of age
  • Vehicles over the age of 12 years will not be licensed
  • Executive vehicles licensed for the first time must be under four years of age - a list of vehicles which will be accepted as executive vehicles can be found on page 38 of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy.
  • Wheelchair-accessible vehicles in immaculate condition must be under a maximum of 15 years

Licensed vehicles are also required to carry:

  • Fire extinguisher/fire stick
  • First aid kit which conforms to British Standard BS8599 - must be marked with registration plate of vehicle
  • Spare wheel or puncture repair kit
  • No smoking signs
  • Sam Says stickers (when issued)
  • Roof sign - to be used at all times

MOTs became mandatory again with effect from 1 August 2020.

For further information please see the Driver & Vehicle Standard Agency website.

All vehicles are to undergo a VOSA MOT annually.

For all new vehicle applications, renewal vehicle applications and 6 monthly MOTs, please book your MOT with one of our approved MOT Testing Stations listed below:

  • Tebco Motor Factors Ltd - 0116 276 0369
    75 Cannock Street
    Leicester
    LE4 9HR
  • R&R MOT Centre Ltd – 0116 288 3700
    35 Chartwell Drive
    Wigston
    Leicestershire
    LE18 2FL

The fee for a licence for ultra-low emission vehicles (ULEVs), both new and renewal applications, is discounted by 25% compared with a standard vehicle licence fee. ULEVs which include pure electric vehicles and fuel cell electric vehicles, to plug-in hybrids and extended range electric vehicles and emit less than 75g of CO2/km from the tailpipe

The fee for a wheelchair accessible vehicle is discounted by 25% compared with a standard vehicle licence fee.

For a fully electric vehicle a 50% discount will be applied to the application fee.

It is the licensee's responsibility to ensure that their vehicle has valid insurance and MOT, we do not send out reminder notices. If our database identifies that insurance or MOTs have expired, then the vehicle will be suspended with immediate effect and will remain suspended until such time that a valid certificate of motor insurance or a pass taxi MOT certificate is received.

Taxi Meters

Only meters fitted by our approved installers will be accepted – failure to supply an approved certificate will result in the vehicle not being licenced.

For all new Hackney Carriage vehicle applications, please find below our approved installers:

Company Address Contact details Types of meters supplied and fitted

TXtronix

65 Copse Close, Oadby, LE2 4FD

07960990118

Viking

Digicabs

Unit 15 Challenge Close, Business Park, Challenge Close, Coventry CV1 5JG

07774443804

Digitax/Cygnus

B&K Taxi Meter Service

33 Court Lett, Binley Woods, Coventry CV3 2JQ

07803152556

Viking/Cygnus/Aquilla/

N and J Pitt Taximeter Ltd

9 Church Street, Old Basford, Nottingham NG6 0GA

0115 9785861

Opening hours 0900-1230 Mon-Thursday

Tetas/Taxitronic

APPLY FOR A VEHICLE LICENCE HERE

Please note: where an application is withdrawn or refused the Council reserves the right to levy a reasonable and proportionate administration fee to cover the costs of processing up to the point of withdrawal or refusal. Where a licence is suspended or revoked there will be no reimbursement of the application fee.

Last updated: Wednesday, 3 January 2024 3:28 pm