You will need a vehicle licence for every vehicle you use to transport passengers for hire or reward.  

The fee for a vehicle licence is:

• £318.00 for a Hackney Carriage (this includes the vehicle inspection test which is £58)
• £293.00 for a Private Hire licence (this includes the vehicle inspection test which is £58)

Vehicles over 5 years require a second vehicle inspection test around half way through the licensed period and the cost of this test is £58. 

To apply for a licence, you will need to:

• Complete the application form

You can view our privacy notice here

• Email the completed form and below supporting Documentation to licensing@southsomerset.gov.uk 

• Vehicle registration document
• Bill of sale if the vehicle has been purchased recently and the change of registered keeper is being processed
• EC certificate of conformity for purpose built wheelchair accessible vehicles
• Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) for the fixings of wheelchair restraints for converted wheelchair accessible vehicles
• Valid Motor Insurance
• Valid Public liability insurance
• Valid MOT
• Additional wheelchair accessible certification (if wheelchair accessible)
• Certificate of meter calibration (Hackney carriages only, at point of first application and where the meter rate has changed)
• A member of the Licensing team will email you a link to make payment for the licence once submitted. 

A case officer will review your application and will contact you if any other information is needed.

If no further information is required, and the application is valid, we will let you know the date and time we have booked your vehicle test at our Lufton site.

If we believe that the hackney carriage is to be used entirely or predominantly remotely from South Somerset District Council's area on a pre-booked basis, then the application for a licence will normally be refused.

We will normally grant a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle licence for 12 months. This is the statutory maximum duration.

Vehicles new to being licensed must meet the EURO 6 standard. This applies to hackney carriage (taxis) vehicles and private hire vehicles. 

Existing licensed vehicles which are not EURO 6 will continue to be renewed as long as there is no break in the licence i.e. the application to renew the vehicle is submitted before the licence expires. 

To check safety, roadworthiness and suitability, we normally require your vehicle to be tested before we grant or renew your hackney carriage or private hire vehicle licence. This inspection will take place at our Lufton depot in Yeovil.

We will also require all vehicles to have a valid MOT certificate.

Vehicle plates are handed out from our Lufton Depot once the vehicle has passed the inspection.

Removal of the requirement for interim MOTs and introduction of requirement for 2 vehicle tests at Lufton for vehicles over 5 years old. The additional date for your Lufton test will be on the licence and we will remind you about the additional test and will ask you to contact us to book it.

If you require a plate exemption for your vehicle you will need to complete an application from (there is no additional fee for this).

If the applicant for a vehicle licence isn’t an SSDC licensed hackney carriage or private hire driver they will need to provide a basic disclosure with the application.

The disclosure must not be more than 3 months old at the time it is provided with the application. Request a basic DBS check.

If your vehicle is over 5 years old it will need an interim vehicle test.

The interim test is carried out at Lufton Depot and is the same test that is carried out at the time your vehicle is first licensed or renewed.

• The interim test is not the same as an MOT.

• If the interim test is not carried out by the date stated on the licence, the licence will be suspended.

How do I know when the test is due?

The period when the test is due is shown on the 2^nd page of the licence.

You will receive a text message reminder just before the test is due.  

How do I book the test?

Please email licensing@southsomerset.gov.uk to request an interim test date. If you have preferred times or dates, please let us know.

How much is the test?

The test costs £58.00 and we will email you an online payment link.

What happens if I need to cancel or change the date of the test?

Please email licensing@southsomerset.gov.uk

What happens if the vehicle fails the test?

If the vehicle fails the interim test the plate will be removed, and the vehicle will be suspended because it does not meet the standards for being a licensed vehicle.

You will need to have the problem fixed and have your vehicle re-tested. You can book a re-test directly with Lufton.

Do I need to have more than one MOT carried out?

No. The interim test replaced the additional MOTs which were previously required.

The number of people carried in a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle can impact on public safety and determine the licensing regime for that vehicle.

The total number of passengers that may be carried in a vehicle will be stated in the licence plate and conditions.

We will normally only grant licences to vehicles that can carry between 4 and 8 passengers. This is the statutory maximum number of passengers before a public service vehicle licence is also needed.

However, the actual number of passengers that can be carried by a vehicle will normally be decided by the following:

• the manufacturers recommendations
• the number of passenger seats specified on the DVLA vehicle registration document V5
• the number of available seats and suitably fitted seat belts
• the vehicle specification

A breach of conditions and any requirements may result in advice, warnings, suspension, revocation or refusal to renew a licence.

Example Offences

• Giving false information on Hackney carriage application = Maximum of 12 penalty points
• Failure to notify the transfer of a vehicle licence = Maximum of three penalty points
• Concealing or defacing a vehicle licence plate = Maximum of six penalty points
• Failure to return a plate after notice has been given following expiry, suspension or revocation = Maximum of 12 penalty points 
• Failure to report an accident within 72 hours = 6 penalty points
• Failure to produce insurance upon request = maximum 6 penalty points

If you get 12 or more penalty points on your licence in one year, you will have to go before the licensing committee, who will decide if further action will be taken against you.

For a full list of all offences and the relevant penalty points view our Taxi Licensing Policy.

You can apply to transfer the ownership of a vehicle by completing this form. 

To apply for a licence, you will need to:

• Complete the application form
• Email the completed form and below supporting Documentation to licensing@southsomerset.gov.uk 

• Vehicle registration document
• Bill of sale if the vehicle has been purchased recently and the change of registered keeper is being processed
• Valid Motor Insurance
• Valid Public liability insurance
• Valid MOT
• A member of the Licensing team will email you a link to make payment for the licence once submitted. 

If the applicant is not a South Somerset District Council hackney carriage/private hire driver they will need to provide a basic disclosure with the application. 

The link to apply for a basic disclosure can be found here Request a basic DBS check - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The basic disclosure must not be more than 3 months old at the time it is submitted with the application. 

The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 requires that Private Hire vehicles display an identification plate and drivers of those vehicles wear a driver’s badge. The same legislation also allows South Somerset District Council  to exempt vehicles from the need to display an identification plate and, where that exemption applies, the requirement to wear a Private Hire Driver badge.

Exemptions from displaying identification plates may be granted in respect of individual vehicles only and based upon evidence based need. Applications for exemptions relating to a fleet of vehicles will not be allowed.

Each application will be assessed on its own merit.

Relevant considerations as to whether a vehicle meets this standard include but are not limited to cost, reputation, specification, appearance, perception, superior comfort levels and seating specification i.e. whether the vehicle offers additional space per passenger opposed to standard vehicles.

The vehicle will be in pristine condition with no visible defects, dents or blemishes to the external bodywork or internal trim and seating. Interior seating will usually be leather and the interior air conditioned to maintain passenger comfort.

The type of work undertaken is ‘executive’ in nature. There must be a demonstrable need for an exemption to apply rather than a one-off contract. The type of work that may be considered ‘executive’ may include:

 

• Corporate bookings to transport employees and clients on business related journeys
• Other journeys where the client specifically requires a vehicle without any Private Hire plates or signage on it at the time of booking
• Bookings for clients (for example politicians and celebrities) who for security or personal safety reasons would not want the vehicle to be identifiable as a Private Hire vehicle.
• The percentage of ‘executive’ work undertaken by the vehicle must constitute at least 75% of the total work carried out by the vehicle.
• An application for an exemption from the display of identity plates must be accompanied by a copy (preferable electronic) of the relevant Private Hire Operator records to evidence the nature of the work carried out over the previous licence period.
• Operator records must also detail evidence of contracts with clients which require vehicles supplied to be exempt from the display of identity plates.
• A dress code commensurate with executive work is required. Applicants to provide details of the dress code (suit/jacket or equivalent) which the operator(s) for whom they work require them to adhere to. Dress code must be followed at all times the vehicle is being used to undertake a booking relating to executive work.

You will need to complete an application form and provide relevant supporting information. The application form can be found here.