Information About Taxi Vehicles

Contents

• Applying for a New or Renewing your PHV or Hackney Carriage Vehicle
• Taxi Licensing Vehicle information
• Hackney Carriages
• Private Hire Vehicles
• Age of vehicles both Private Hire and Hackney Carriages
• Vehicle testing procedures
• Buying and selling licensed vehicles
• Lost vehicle plates
• Licensing fees
• Vehicle Licence Applications
• Renew a Vehicle Licence
• Public registers

Hackney and Private Hire Policy 2025-2030

Following the Council meeting on the 27 November 2025 the Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Policy 2025 to 2030 has now been approved. Details can be located at Council and Democracy - Rushcliffe Borough Council. As the policy make changes to the application process we are working on implementing these and you may find that you will need to do things slightly differently when applying for a drivers badge or a vehicle plate, please see the links to the left and read the related pages here on our website.

Applying for a New or Renewing your PHV or Hackney Carriage Vehicle

If you are applying for a new or to renew your existing Private Hire or Hackney Carriage licence with Rushcliffe Borough Council please review the information on this page and click on the appropriate link at the bottom of this page to take you to the online application form.

Taxi Licensing Vehicle information

Types of vehicles

Please ensure you vehicle meets the age limits set out below. If so to get a vehicle licensed by Rushcliffe Borough Council, you must first decide whether the vehicle that you are going to drive is to be a Hackney Carriage or a Private Hire Vehicle. You may want to consider the Hackney carriage table of fares.

Once you have made the decision between Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle, you will need to have your vehicle MOT'd at a garage in Rushcliffe (see the list below, you must arrange and pay for this) and within 14 days complete the online application form for a vehicle licence at the bottom of this page, supply the relevant documents and pay the application fee. There will normally be no additional inspection of the vehicle. If the test is not submitted within 14 days you may be refused and have to have a further test at your own cost. We will not, under the new policy normally require a further compliance test. The MOT will be considered sufficient inspection of the vehicle. Note: Unless the vehicle is brand new with delivery miles only, where no MOT is required.

Hackney Carriages

Under the new policy we are relaxing our vehicle specification for Hackney Carriages and they no longer are required to be a 'London cab' style vehicle and from the start of the policy provided the vehicle meets or exceeds the same standards as a Private Hire and is one solid colour, you may apply to be a Hackney Carriage Vehicle. The vehicle must however have a meter and a "For Hire" top light installed before working as a Hackney. We encourage larger and wheel chair accessible vehicle's in particular to apply for a Hackney Carriage licence. this measure is being implemented to encourage such applications.

Private Hire Vehicles

Vehicles similar to the 'London cab' will not be licensed as a Private Hire vehicles. Minibus variants of approved Hackney Carriages such as the Mercedes Vito, can be licensed as Private Hire.

Vehicles will be of four doors and of a single colour. Remould tyres or repair kits are not acceptable; all vehicles must carry a spare tyre.

The full specifications of both Hackney Carriages and Private Vehicles can be found in the Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Policy 2025 to 2030

If you intend to apply for a new private hire vehicle licence to carry more than 4 passengers, the vehicle must meet the minimum specifications described in the Taxi Licensing Policy 2025-2030. If you are unsure whether the vehicle meets the criteria e.g. Vauxhall  Zafira, Volkswagen Sharan, Seat Alhambra etc. for more than four (4) passengers please contact The Licensing Team in order to find out whether the vehicle will be compliant with the Council's current policy. 

Age of vehicles both Private Hire and Hackney Carriages

The Council will apply an age limit and will not license vehicles older than fifteen (15) years old from the date of first registration at the time of application (Exceptions apply).  The age limit will be kept under review during this policy and any subsequent policy. The exception to the above will be specially adapted or specialised purpose built vehicles which are used for the carriage of disabled persons which will not have an age limit restriction.

Fully electric and other environmentally friendly fueled vehicles (e.g. ZEV or hydrogen, but not hybrid petrol/diesel) will be judged on their specification and condition and will also not have any age limit restriction applied. Some types of vehicles may be at the discretion of this authority, as this area develops and may be amended as necessary.

 

TAXI/PHV application	Age	Licence issued
Newly licensed (All Vehicles)	Must be less than 8 years	1 year licence
Renewal	If they have a current licence they can be renewed until 15 years old	1 year licence, but 6 months if older than 8 years
Renewal (Specially adapted, ZEV, Hydrogen or discretion)	No age restriction, subject to suitability to standards	1 year but 6 months older than 8 years

 Information about driving in clean air zones is available on the Clean Air Zone vehicle checker.

Vehicle testing procedure and application procedure

Under the new  Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Policy 2025 to 2030 the application process below will be used.

Please note that the difference in the testing arrangement's set out below. During this transition period the council will allow both procedures to be used but in 2026 only the below process will be accepted.

Applications for vehicle licences will only be accepted in relation to vehicles that comply with:

1. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s specification for private hire vehicles, or hackney carriages (as appropriate), and
2. Rushcliffe Borough Council’s Vehicle Age (generally up to 8 years for a new and up to 15 years for renewal, see exemptions) and Emissions Standards
3. Vehicles subject of a write-off of any sort will not be considered for a licence. The Council will undertake a HPI check of any vehicle which is intended  to be licensed to ensure such vehicles are not granted a licence.

The applicant must use the online application process and submit/complete the following to the Council in order for the application to be considered valid:

• The vehicle application form (online)
• The appropriate fee (paid online)
• A digital copy/scan or photograph of the original Vehicle Registration Document (Logbook/V5) certificate of registration for the vehicle
• A digital copy/scan or photograph of a valid insurance certificate or insurance cover note for the vehicle. (No weekly cover notes accepted)
•  A current MOT certificate from an Approved Rushcliffe garage in the Council Area issued within 14 calendar days of the application submission.
• Note: Unless the vehicle is brand new with delivery miles only, where no MOT is required
• For Hackney Carriage copy of the meter calibration/installation certificate.
  In addition:
  • Any vehicle not manufactured with European Whole Vehicle Type Approval will be required to undergo Single Vehicle Approval (SVA) testing and evidence of that testing and the vehicle having obtained SVA produced to the licensing office. The application must be made on the correct application form and all supporting documents completed in full.
  • Stretch limousines can be licensed by the authority but will not be licensed for any more than 8 passengers, if the seating is of such a kind that a determination of seating is not clear, a licensing officer will inspect the vehicle to discover the precise number of seats available. If no clear determination can be obtained, the application will be viewed on its own 
    merits and may be refused.
• A vehicle must not be ‘double plated’ e.g. also licenced with another local authority.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles will be issued with a 12-month or 6-month licence depending on their age from the date of first registration. And may be refused to be licenced if over a specified age for a new application or at renewal. 
This is set out is section 7 of the policy. Renewal of any Taxi or Private Hire Vehicle MOT must be undertaken at one of the councils nominated testing stations and arrangements and payments for any MOT will be undertaken by the applicant.

• Fred Brown Car Repairs
  14A Rectory Road, West Bridgford NG2 6BE · 
  Phone 0115 982 5582
• Wilford Lane Garage & Autocentre140 Wilford Lane, West Bridgford, Nottingham NG2 7RL 
  Phone 0115 981 6774
• Ludlow Hill MOT Centre unit 10, 2 Ludlow Hill Road West Bridgford West Bridgford 
  Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG2 6HF 
  Phone: 01159 234 553

A separate compliance test will not be required, only an MOT at the approved garages in RUSHCLIFFE from the above list will be accepted.

An additional compliance test may be required should there be a need to check the compliance of a vehicle due to complaint or random compliance checking at any time it is licenced.

Once the vehicle licence has been issued, they must ensure the plate is attached and all conditions adhered to and only licensed drivers will be permitted to drive the vehicle.
Where an application has been made for a vehicle licence to be renewed, the previous plates WILL be removed by the driver at the time of collection and replaced with the new plates straight away. The old plates will subsequently be disposed of by 
the Council.

Vehicle Licence Applications application links:

Please be aware that any vehicle which has been classed as any category "Write Off" will not be licenced as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
This licence entitles the vehicle to be used for Private Hire purposes only through a Rushcliffe Council licensed operator. Most of the vehicles licenced with Rushcliffe are of this type. In the case of a Hackney Carriage (TAXI/black cab) you can 'ply for 
hire' within the Rushcliffe Borough Council boundary area. Please use the links below to make the application through the councils' application portal. You will be required to submit with the application the necessary documentation such as your 
V5C and Insurance and make the application payment.
Please use this link to apply for your Initial Private Hire Vehicle Licence.

Please use this link to apply for your Initial Private Hire Vehicle Licence.

• Initial (NEW) Application - Private Hire Vehicle Licence

Please use this link to apply for your for Initial Hackney Carriage (TAXI/back cab) Vehicle Licence.

• Initial (NEW) Application - Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence

PLEASE NOTE: online application forms are not submitted or received by Rushcliffe Borough Council if the payment is not made at the time of completing the application form.

Plates will be ready for collection 2 working days AFTER the successful submission of the application. if for any reason the applicaotin is refused you will be contacted. It is the responsibility of the applicant to affix the plates to the vehicle in the prescribed way.

Failure to do so will result in a breach of the licence conditions. The applicant is responsible for fixing the plates to the vehicle in the approved manner, i.e. to the front and rear of the vehicle. Hackney Carriage drivers will be supplied with the Rushcliffe logo which will be affixed to both front doors and will not be obstructed in any way.

Buying and selling licensed vehicles

Anyone who buys or sells a licensed vehicle must notify the Council within seven days, in writing. If the vehicle is sold to another Rushcliffe licensed driver the Council need to know the details of the new owner of the car and also the previous owner's details. There is no need to re-test the vehicle at this stage.

Lost vehicle plates

Make enquiries with the police and also notify the Council in writing of the fact that you have lost your plates. There is a standard charge for replacement of your plates which has to be charged if you cannot recover your original.

Licensing Fees

Until you have paid the appropriate fee in full you will not be able to book your vehicle in for a test. A photocopy of the receipt issued by the cash office will need to be attached to the application form before the licensing officer can process the application.

• Current fees
• Licence duration: 1 year for Private hire vehicles under 5 years of age 1 year for Hackney Carriages under 7 years of age. Vehicles over these ages will be tested twice per year.

PLEASE NOTE: Online application forms are not submitted or received by Rushcliffe Borough Council if the payment is not made at the time of completing the application form.

PLEASE NOTE: Please ensure your renewal date is within one month of the expiry date of your current existing licence. If you apply too early the application will not proceed and an error will occur. You may however apply at a later date.

Public Registers

You can view information on our public register for taxis.

 

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