Taxi vehicles

Vehicle age policy

From 1 January 2025 all vehicles over the age of 15 years from the date of first DVLA registration will ordinarily be refused a licence unless the vehicle is in exceptional condition and has been approved for use following an Exceptional Condition Vehicle Check (terms to be decided).

From 1 January 2025 all newly licensed vehicles will be required to be a minimum of Euro 6 Diesel or ZEC ULEV.

Definitions:

Ultra-Low Emission cars are those cars that in tests, produce less than 75 grams of CO2 for every 1 Kilometre travelled (75g/km CO2).

ZEC is defined as: Zero Emission Capable (ZEC) vehicles. Emit no more than 75g/km CO2 exhaust emissions and be capable of being operated with no (zero) emissions for a minimum range of 20 miles (32.187 km).

Information about the National Register of Refusals and Revocations (NR3) policy

‌‌‌We licence hackney carriage vehicles and private hire vehicles with eight seats or less. We also licence stretched limousines with eight seats or less and tuk-tuks.

If you need to submit a new taxi vehicle licence or renew an existing licence, you can now do this online. You will need to register and login to use this service.

Apply for or renew a taxi vehicle licence

Approved testing stations and fees

All vehicles will have to have an inspection carried out by one of the approved testing stations. This is an annual inspection for those vehicles less than 5 years old. If the vehicle is 5 years or older, it will be required to have 2 inspections a year, one every 6 months.

‌From 7 November 2022, the Council’s approved testing stations will no longer assess the taximeters in hackney carriages for accuracy during first-time and annual inspections. Vehicles will still be road tested during such inspections but the taximeter will not normally be assessed.

All new applications for hackney carriage vehicle licences must, from 7 November 2022, include certification provided by a reputable meter calibration company that quotes the vehicle’s taximeter serial number and confirms it has been correctly calibrated to the Council’s tariffs and sealed.

Name	Address	Telephone	Testing fees
Alans Test Centre Derby	27 Shaftesbury Street Sir Francis Ley Industrial Park South Derby DE23 8YH	01332 363071	Alans Test Centre fees
Clifmere 2003 Ltd	Elton Road Derby DE24 8EG	01332 345138	Clifmere 2003 testing fees
Derby MOT Centre	19 Avondale Road Derby DE23 6SG	01332 345584	Derby MOT Centre testing fees
R&A Wildgoose T/ A John’s Garage	Unit 16 Dunton Close West Meadows Industrial Estate Derby DE21 6XB	01332 202033	R and A Wildgoose T/ A John’s Garage testing fees

As well as passing the Driver and Vehicle Standards MOT test, each vehicle must pass our supplementary test. Please download the Supplementary Testing Manual for more details.

Please note, now in force: 6 monthly testing on vehicles 5 years or older.

Hackney carriage 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.

Private hire vehicles

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:

Executive car exemption

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.

Modified vehicles

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.

How do I apply for a new licence?

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.

What are the fees?

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

How do I renew my licence?

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

What must I do if I sell my licensed vehicle?

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

I’ve had an accident in my licensed vehicle what do I do?

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

I have a new vehicle registration number what do I do?

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.

Can I advertise on or in my vehicle?

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

Stretched limousine and tuk-tuk licences

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.

Public Registers

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.

Wheelchair accessible vehicles

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.

Taxi trade meetings

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.

Taxi vehicles

Yellow sash/vehicle branding

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