3. Apply for a new hackney carriage vehicle licence
Hackney carriage vehicle licences last for 1 year and must be renewed annually.
How to apply
Before applying for a hackney carriage vehicle licence you'll need to make sure that you and your vehicle can meet the conditions of our hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy.
Please note that our vehicle age policy states that on initial licensing as a hackney carriage, a vehicle shall not be more than 5 years old from the date of first registration. This means that if you apply to licence a vehicle which is more than 5 years old, the application can't be automatically granted by an officer and will have to be considered by the licensing sub committee who may grant of refuse the application. The purchase of any vehicle is at your own risk. We recommend that you provide details of the vehicle to us via email to licensing@eastdevon.gov.uk prior to purchase, so that we may carry out an initial check.
What you'll need to do
Apply online by clicking on the blue Start button below. You will need to have the following documents ready to upload:
- The current vehicle registration certificate (V5) for the vehicle showing yourself as the owner
- A completed original vehicle inspection report form. The form will only be accepted if it is stamped with the garage's official authentication stamp
- A current insurance certificate or cover note (to be a minimum of £1,000,000). This must show the vehicle registration number, the name of any persons insured to drive the vehicle and must specify that the vehicle can be used as a hackney carriage.
- The following photographs:
- A photograph of each side of the exterior of the vehicle. At least one must show the roof sign fitted to the vehicle.
- Photographs of the interior of the vehicle showing the front area of the vehicle in one photo and the rear area in another
- At least one photograph of the fire extinguisher and first aid kit in the vehicle
- At least one photograph showing no smoking signs adhered to the vehicle
- A photo of the meter calibrated to the East Devon Tariff fares chart or proof or meter calibration
If your vehicle is more than 1 year old you'll need to make sure it has a valid MOT. We will check this online.
If a vehicle proprietor or private hire operator does not already hold a hackney or private hire driver licence, that person will have to provide a basic DBS certificate no less than 1 month old.
If you are not able to apply online using the Start button below, you can download, complete and sign a hackney carriage vehicle application form, and send this to us along with the documentation above to licensing@eastdevon.gov.uk or by post to Blackdown House, Border Road, Honiton EX14 1EJ.
Payments
You will need to pay a fee for your hackney carriage vehicle licence. If you apply online using the Start button below, you will be required to pay using a debit or credit card when you submit the application. Otherwise, we will accept a cheque, or you can either pay over the phone, or request a payment link to be emailed to you, that you can use to make payment online with a card. Please make sure you are aware of how much this will cost.
Data Protection
Any personal information which you provide will be held and used by East Devon District Council for the purpose of the Licensing Service to process your hackney carriage vehicle licence application(s) and administer any licence(s) which are granted. Your information may also be shared within East Devon District Council for the purposes of carrying out our lawful functions. Otherwise your personal information will not be disclosed to anybody outside East Devon District Council without your permission, unless there is a lawful reason to do so, for example disclosure is necessary for crime prevention or detection purposes. Your information will be held securely and will not be retained for any longer than is necessary. There are a number of rights available to you in relation to our use of your personal information, depending on the reason for processing. Further detail about our use of your personal information can be found in the relevant Privacy Notice.