Vehicle licences (hackney and private hire)

Guidance

All vehicles must be in a fit an appropriate condition to be used as a taxi or private hire vehicle and comply with our colour/size guidelines.

  • Taxi (hackney carriages) must be white and have no more than eight passenger seats. The vehicle log book must state the vehicle is white.
  • Private hire vehicles can be any other colour apart from white, and have no more than eight passenger seats.

As part of the application process, all vehicles must have a compliance check carried out by our appointed garage Terry Turner Autos in Lichfield. Terry Turner Autos will provide a compliance certificate for each vehicle, which must be submitted together with the vehicle application form. Before applying for your vehicle licence, we recommend you have booked your vehicle in with Terry Turner Autos and have received your compliance certificate.

You must also provide:

  • A insurance certificate that shows the vehicle is insured to be used as a taxi or private hire vehicle
  • The V5 log book

If you are applying for the vehicle to be used as a hackney carriage, it must also be fitted with a meter, which will be checked by the council as part of the application process.

Tax check

From 4 April 2022 applicants will need to confirm they have completed a tax check and the 9 character tax check code must be provided as part of the application process for renewal applications or new applications that have held a similar licence within the last 12 months. Complete a tax check for a taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence.

  • HMRC has powers to obtain information from Licensing Authorities using ‘Schedule 23 to Finance Act 2011 (Data Gathering Powers) and Schedule 36 to Finance Act 2008 (Information and Inspection Powers), grants HMRC powers to obtain relevant information from third parties. This includes licensing bodies being required to provide information about licence applicants.’ 

  • More guidance about tax registration obligations can be found: