Licence summary
Before you can operate either a hackney carriage or private hire
vehicle you will need to obtain a licence from us. The licences
issued last for one year and are specific to the vehicle detailed
on the licence.
Conditions are attached to licences granted and
a fee is payable before a licence is issued. The
conditions attached to licences form part of the licence and must
be complied with.
We have produced
guidance notes to assist persons making an
application for a vehicle licence.
Applications have to be made in person at the Licensing Office
and be supported with the following documents:
- Vehicle Registration Document (please note the name of the
vehicle keeper must be the same as the applicant).
- Bill of sale/ receipt/credit or leasing agreement for a newly
acquired vehicle.
- Certificate of Vehicle Insurance to cover use for private hire
and/ or taxi use (minimum of 30 days duration).
- A valid MOT Certificate for both new and used
vehicles).
- Vehicle Compliance Certificate issued by the Council’s
appointed garage.
- The
licence fee
Eligibility criteria
For a vehicle to be licensed as either a hackney carriage or
private hire vehicle it must:
In relation to the above applicants are advised to be aware of
the following:
- We will not licence a vehicle unless all the necessary
supporting documentation (see above) has been supplied along with
the appropriate fee.
- The MOT Certificate can be from any garage within the North
Somerset area. For new vehicles purchased outside the North
Somerset area, we will accept an MOT Certificate from the garage
the vehicle is being purchased from.
- The vehicle compliance inspection is a separate inspection to
the MOT inspection and is undertaken by a Council nominated garage.
An appointment for the vehicle compliance inspection has to be made
through the Licensing Office. The fee for the inspection is
included within the licence fee.
If a vehicle fails a vehicle compliance inspection a further
test has to be booked through the Licensing Office.
Regulation summary
The main legal requirements relating to vehicle licences
are contained within the following legislation:
Application evaluation process
We will check the application made along with the required
supporting documentation. If all are present and in order we
normally are able to issue the vehicle licence, plates and other
related items on the same day.
Downloadable forms and other documents
Failed application redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
Any applicant who is refused a licence, or refused the renewal
of a licence, may, within 21 days of being notified of the refusal,
appeal to the
local
magistrates' court.
Licence holder redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
A licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition on a
licence can appeal to a
local
magistrates' court within 21 days of being notified of
inclusion of the condition on the licence.
Consumer complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the
first contact is made with the vehicle owner by you - preferably in
the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that has not worked,
you will need to complete a
complaint form and forward it to the
Licensing Team.
Accidents involving licensed vehicles
If you have an accident involving a hackney carriage or private
hire vehicle you must report it to the Licensing Office the next
working day or within 72 hours, whichever is the sooner.
Notification must be in writing on an
accident notification form which can be
downloaded. Accident notification forms should be presented to
the office in person along with the vehicle for inspection,
wherever possible.
Public registers
Please contact the Licensing Team for more information on the
registers held.
Trade associations
Contact details
For more information please contact the
Licensing
Team.
