Vehicle requirements
New applicants
From 1 September 2018, we introduced a new Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) policy for all new applicants. Vehicles being licensed must comply with the following:
- all vehicles being licensed by a new applicant must comply with the ULEV standard - ULEV means a vehicle that uses low carbon technologies and emits less than 75g of CO2/Km from the tailpipe (exhaust) and is capable of operating zero emissions for a range of at least 10 miles
- all vehicles must be less than 3 years old (from date of first registration or manufacture if an import) when first licensed
- new applicants will not be permitted to have a currently licensed vehicle transferred to them from the effective date unless the vehicle is of the required ULEV standard.
Please note the vehicle registration document (V5) will be required in order to confirm the vehicle meets the above requirements.
Current licence holder
All currently licensed saloon type private hire and hackney carriage vehicles are to remain licensed until they reach 9 years of age.
Please note the following does not currently apply to wheelchair accessible vehicles:
- all new vehicles being licensed by current licence holders are to meet the Clean Air Zone (CAZ) standard - Euro 6 diesel/Euro 6 petrol
- you can check the status of the vehicle using the HPI Euro emmission checker
- all new vehicles are to be ULEV from 2025.
Please note the vehicle registration document (V5) will be required in order to confirm the vehicle meets the above requirements.
Any vehicle can be considered for licensing, subject to our current policies. Licensing officers will:
- have a discretion to refuse applications if they feel the vehicle is unsuitable and/or unsafe
- determine how many passengers the vehicle can safely and comfortably carry.
Licensing limousines
Please contact the licensing team for advice on licensing limousines or novelty type vehicles.