INFORMATION TO ASSIST YOU WITH YOUR APPLICATION FOR A HACKNEY CARRIAGE OR PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENCE
This is an online application form for applying for a vehicle licence.
Please make sure you have all the relevant documentation downloaded/copied to attach to the application. This should include vehicle registration documentation or bill of sale, insurance documentation, MOT certificate and the driver's Rushcliffe drivers badge. You will also be prompted to pay the licence fee online by card payment.
Please be aware that on passing, all vehicle plates are POSTED to the applicant. Therefore when applying please allow time for the preparation and postage time and it is a condition of the licence that licence plates are displayed on the vehicle when it is being driven as a licenced vehicle.
When the application has been checked and the fee paid, an appointment confirmation email will be sent to you to confirm the appointment. Failure to attend on time will result in the examination being rearranged, possibly with an additional fee being charged.
We have asked the garages to send confirmation of the vehicle passes to us, to speed up delivery of the licence/plates. However, when the vehicle has passed the inspection you will be given a pass certificate which you should copy and email to
licensing@rushcliffe.gov.uk or alternatively post to:
On passing the vehicle test all Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Plates and Licences will be POSTED to the applicant.
Rushcliffe Borough Council
Rushcliffe Arena
Rugby Road
West Bridgford
Nottingham
NG2 7YG.
It is your responsibility to ensure that the plates are securely affixed to your vehicle. You must purchase brackets in advance of your test to be used to fix the plates to your vehicle.
If your vehicle fails the inspection, a fail certificate will be issued and are test will be arranged. The printed licence should be handed to the licensed Operator (in the case of Private Hire vehicles) for whom you work, who will retain it until you change Operator or cancel the licence.
If you leave the trade or cease to use the vehicle as a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle, the licence plates
MUST be returned to the Council. Please consider all the above information before proceeding as
NO REFUNDS of any fees paid will be given.
If your vehicle is over 5 years old (Private Hire Vehicle) or 7 years old (Hackney Carriage) it will be examined twice per year and an additional fee will be required. It must be in exceptional condition and you are advised to read the attached sheet which gives details about exceptional condition.
DEFINITION OF "EXCEPTIONAL CONDITION" FOR PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES.
The term "exceptional condition" is used to describe vehicles which are over any age limit set by the Council, but that can continue to be licensed because of their condition. Case law dictates that it is necessary to have such a condition because it is illegal for a Local Authority to have a blanket policy for all vehicles that is inflexible. (See Sharpe v Nottingham City Council, February 1981)
Any Council which imposes an age limit on its vehicles must be prepared to consider applications from vehicles that are in "exceptional condition" and the following specification
is a guide to suggest the type of vehicles that Rushcliffe Borough Council will consider.
A vehicle of "exceptional condition" is one where the components i.e. mechanical, body panels, paint and trim are in an exceptional condition with regard to the age of the vehicle.
It is essential that the image of an exceptional older vehicle upholds the standards normally set by a much younger vehicle.
Key items that will be considered when determining whether or not a vehicle meets the standard expected of vehicles in "exceptional condition" are set out below:
- The underside condition of the vehicle does not show any signs of rusting or age, or deterioration.
- Mechanical condition is such that there should be no item that may show age, deterioration or cause or contribute to a less than safe, comfortable passenger ride.
- Bodywork should be in near perfect condition with no signs of panel age deterioration, dents or any other abrasions that may detract from the overall appearance of the vehicle.
- General paint condition should not show signs of fading, discolouration or mismatching and retain a finish generally found on much younger vehicles.
- Interior trims, panels, seating and carpets etc should be of a condition that is free from frayed, discoloured, faded or torn components.
- The passenger compartment should be free from damp or any other odours that may cause passenger discomfort.
Ultimately, the decision on whether or not a car can continue to be licensed under the proviso that it is in "exceptional condition" would have to be judged on the merits of each vehicle. Consideration would also have to be given to the type of vehicle, engine size, mileage and the fact that it is going to be used as a licensed private hire vehicle rather than a family saloon.
This decision is made by the testing staff and if you do not agree with their decision, then you may appeal to the Council's Licensing Department within 7 days. The Licensing Department's decision is final. The Licensing staff are also available to advise you on the various options available to you in order that you may make an informed decision.
In order to progress improvement in standards and support air quality improvements the Council will further reduce the age limit of vehicles being registered for use as a taxi or PHV for the first time. Any NEWLY LICENSED vehicle will only be able to be licensed with the Council if its date of first registration as stated on the DVLA V5 document, is on or after 01.01.2011. This coincides with euro standards improvement. Vehicles registered before this date will not be able to be licensed for the first time.
The Council will not license any currently licensed vehicle older than
12 years old from the date of first registration as from 1 January 2017.
The only exception to the above will be Minibus type vehicles which are manufactured or specially adapted for the carriage of wheelchair users which will have an age limit of
14 years from the date of first registration. Any such vehicle will be inspected to ensure that it conforms to this requirement.
NOTE:
Please be aware that there is a £115 fee for any new vehicles added to an operator's fleet. It is the responsibility of the operator to pay this charge, however, a new plate will not be issued if the operator has not paid the additional fee. DATA PROTECTION PRIVACY NOTICE
The personal information you provide will only be used by Rushcliffe Borough Council, the Data Controller; in accordance with General Data Protection Regulation 2016/ Data
Protection Act 2018 to:
process your application, query or to provide a service that you are requesting
or
undertake a statutory function (also known as a 'public task')
The basis for processing this information is to enable the council to undertake a public task or to provide the service that you are requesting.
Your personal information will be included in a public register in accordance with our statutory responsibility.
The Licensing Authority will inform data subjects that Licensing Authorities are required by Law to share the Data with Defra so that Defra can create a database to support the operation of charging clean air zones by local authorities or other air quality plans.
Your personal data will be kept in accordance with the Council's
Retention Policy and Schedule on the Council's website.
In accordance with GDPR you have a right to:
- have a copy of the personal information that we hold about you. Details of how to obtain this are available on the Freedom of Information webpage.
- Request that your personal data be corrected or completed.
- Complain to the Information Commissioner if you feel that your information is not being handled appropriately.
You may also have a right to:
- have your personal data transferred (data portability).
- prevent automated processing and profiling.
- erasure (also known as the right to be forgotten).
- restrict processing.
- object to processing.
Your data protection rights are not absolute and in most cases are subject to the Council demonstrating compliance with other statutory legislation, for further information see Privacy
For further details about how your personal information may be used or about your rights under data protection legislation, please contact the Council's Data Protection Officer at:
- By post: Data Protection Officer, Rushcliffe Borough Council, Rushcliffe Arena, Rugby Road, West Bridgford, Nottingham, NG2 7YG.
- By email: customerservices@rushcliffe.gov.uk
- By Telephone: 0115 981 9911
