West Berkshire hackney carriage (taxi) vehicle licence

Apply for a hackney carriage (taxi) vehicle licence

All hackney carriage vehicles operating in West Berkshire must hold a West Berkshire hackney carriage vehicle proprietor’s licence. Hackney carriages can pick up passengers on the street and at designated taxi ranks without a prior booking. You must hold a hackney carriage drivers licence to drive a hackney carriage vehicle.

Hackney carriages are the subject of licensing rules, regulations and conditions to ensure they are fit for purpose.

All vehicles first licensed from 15 March 2005 will be granted on the condition that vehicle provide full wheelchair accessibility.

To apply for a licence please submit a completed application form (found in Associated documents below) with:

• V5C registration document (A bill of sale is required for new vehicle applications)
• an insurance certificate which must show appropriate public hire/hackney carriage cover
• MOT certificate (if required - see below)
• certificate of fitness issued by an authorised West Berkshire garage
• a meter certificate showing the meter has been calibrated by an approved West Berkshire meter agent
• all vehicles that are designed to accommodate wheelchair users must have all modifications and adaptations, including all seats, seat belts and anchorages, retested to meet either the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval or the UK Low Volume Type Approval in the M1 category (evidence of this must be produced). Those vehicles which have not been “type approved” to the M1 category (e.g. conversions) must be presented with approved certification that the specific vehicle meets the requirements of that category. It is recommended that prior to purchasing any new vehicle, advice be sought from the Licensing Team.

MOT

vehicles less than 12 months old do not require a MOT
vehicles between the ages of 12 months up to six years old must have a valid MOT
vehicles between the ages of six years to eight years old must have a valid MOT less than six months old and
vehicles over the age of eight years old must have a valid MOT less than four months old.