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Renewing your Taxi Vehicle Licence

In order to ensure continuity of your licence, an application to renew the licence must be received prior to the expiry date of the existing licence. An application to renew an existing licence cannot be submitted once the expiry date of the licence has passed. In those circumstances, an application for a new licence will be required and the vehicle will have to meet the wheelchair accessible requirements of the Policy.

Licences are granted for a maximum period of 12 months and your vehicle will need to be tested each time you apply (testing involves an MOT test and an engineer's report from the Council's nominated garage). Once a vehicle reaches a prescribed age, licences will only be issued for a 6 month period and will be subject to testing at each subsequent application as follows;

Step 1 - Application Form

You need to complete an application form and send it to the Council accompanied by the following documentation:

• your current insurance, including the name of the driver and the appropriate usage cover
• the current vehicle licence fee
• the vehicle's V5 (log book) stating your name and address (or the company's name and address if operating as part of a business)

The application form and fee should be received by the Council no later than twenty-eight days prior to the expiry date of the current licence. Accompanying documentation can follow as it becomes available, but must be received by the Council no later than ten working days prior to the expiry date of the current licence.

Hackney Carriage Vehicle Renewal Application Form (44.8KB)
Private Hire Vehicle Renewal Application Form (44.3KB)

Step 2 - Vehicle Test

You will need to book an appointment for the vehicle to be tested at the Council's nominated garage;

North Hertfordshire Homes
Blackhorse Lane
Letchworth Garden City
Herts
SG6 1HA
Telephone: 01462 474716

There is a non-refundable fee for the test which is set by North Hertfordshire Homes. A further fee is payable if your vehicle fails and has to be re-tested. Once your vehicle has obtained the following documentation from the nominated garage:

• MOT pass certificate (if over 1 year old)
• Engineer's Report pass certificate
• Emission Test pass certificate

send the original documentation to the Council and it will be copied with the original documentation being returned by recorded delivery. Alternatively, the original documentation can be taken to the Customer Service Centre in Letchworth Garden City .  Please be aware that the Customer Service Centre can get very busy and that you will be seen chronological order.

Step 3 - The Licence

Once all the relevant paperwork has been received and the vehicle meets the Council’s requirements, a 6 month or 1 year paper licence will be issued in accordance with the table above. Additionally, a vehicle licence plate will be issued which must be displayed on the rear of the vehicle, in accordance with Council Policy, at all times. The licence can either be collected from the Customer Service Centre or dispatched by post. The expired vehicle plate must be returned to Licensing & Enforcement as soon as possible for appropriate destruction.

If you have any questions, please contact Licensing & Enforcement via e-mail at licensing@north-herts.gov.uk or on 01462 474000.