Taxi vehicles

Hackney carriages meet the legal definition of a ‘taxi’ and are allowed to use the city’s bus lanes.

They can wait on designated taxi ranks and can be flagged down in the street. They are fitted with a meter and the maximum fees are listed in the Hackney Carriage Fare Table.‌

They are purpose-built wheelchair-accessible vehicles and the makes and models permitted to be taxis in Derby are approved by the Council’s Licensing Committee and are listed in the hackney carriage vehicle specifications.

The vehicles must meet certain specifications and conditions and the local byelaws:

Yellow sash/vehicle branding

Black hackney carriages must have the Derby City Council yellow sash/branding applied to the vehicle. 

You should have the design put on your taxi within 14 days of the grant of the licence. As soon as it has been applied, please email photographic confirmation to taxi.licensing@derby.gov.uk. It must be possible to identify the vehicle from the photos.

You can use one of the companies listed below. Please note, this list is for guidance only and inclusion on the list implies no recommendation from the Council.

Derby Sign and Graphics Ltd
Unit 3 Boars Head Industrial Estate
Clarke Street
Derby
DE1 2BU

Email: derbysignandgraphics@gmail.com
Telephone: 01332 200210

Graphic Worx
23C Wordsworth Avenue
Sinfin
Derby
DE24 9HQ

Email: contact@gwderby.co.uk
Telephone: 01332 590360

Failure to have the yellow sashes put on your vehicle within 14 days of the grant of its licence may result in the licence being suspended until such time as they are applied.

Must be pre-booked through a licensed private hire operator before a journey starts.

They do not meet the legal definition of a ‘taxi’, so are not permitted to use bus lanes, taxi ranks or be hailed in the street.

Licences for private hire drivers, private hire vehicles and private hire operators must be all issued by the same licensing authority.

The vehicles must meet certain specifications and conditions:

You may be able to apply for an executive car exemption. Please read the Executive Car Exemption Policy and the Executive Car Exemption Application Form for more detail.

If your vehicle has been modified since leaving the manufacturer you will require a Voluntary Individual Vehicle Assessment (VIVA) if it hasn’t had one. It will require a normal assessment, not a basic assessment. For more information visit the VIVA website. The certificate you get when an assessment has been completed is an important document and should be kept safe.

Check to see if your vehicle meets the current specifications and licence conditions.

Apply for taxi vehicle licence

A completed application requires both the application form and supporting documents:

  • V5 registration document.
  • Bill of sale (receipt).
  • Correct insurance certificate for the type of vehicle.
  • Meter Calibration certificate (for New Hackney Vehicles only).

If you don't have an official receipt, the seller and the buyer of the vehicle must complete a Bill of Sale Form.

If you are unable to access the online form, please complete the application for new Hackney Carriage Vehicle Application Form or a new Private Hire Vehicle Application Form

You can submit the application form along with the supporting documents by post or email.

Our licensing payments page explains what fees apply and how to pay them.

As an existing licence holder you will receive a renewal reminder approximately three months before your licence expires.

You must tell us if you sell or transfer your licensed vehicle. Please complete the Licensed Vehicle Transfer Form.

You must report accidents within 72 hours using the Vehicle Accident Form‌.

If you have a new vehicle registration number please check the Licensed Vehicle Change of Registration Number Guidance.

Please pay the current change of vehicle registration number fee‌.

Please see the Licensed Vehicle Advertising Policy and Licensed Vehicle Advertising Approval Form for more information.

If you are interested in getting a licence to drive a stretched limousine with eight seats or less, or to drive a tuk-tuk please email the Licensing Team at taxi.licensing@derby.gov.uk.

Some public registers are available online. They are updated at least every three months. If you have any queries regarding the registers please contact the Licensing Team.

Designated list of wheelchair-accessible vehicles for the purposes of Section 165 of the Equality Act 2010. We are required to keep a register of wheelchair accessible vehicles licensed in Derby under section 167 of the Equality Act 2010. Section 165 of the Act requires the drivers of those vehicles to carry passengers in wheelchairs and provide assistance to those passengers, and prohibits them from charging extra. The requirements of section 165 do not apply to drivers who have a valid exemption certificate and are displaying this notice in the prescribed manner.

The next scheduled meetings are listed below.  Please note the cut-off date for the receipt of agenda items and statements or supporting information. The meetings will be held at the Council House starting at 10am. Details of the Terms of Reference for the Taxi Licensing Trade Meetings‌‌ be downloaded.  

Previous agendas

Previous minutes

 

Email:

taxi.licensing@derby.gov.uk

Phone:

01332 641951

SignVideo:

Signing service

Address:

Licensing Team
Derby City Council
Council House
Corporation Street
Derby
DE1 2FS