Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licences

Key information before applying:

• Please ensure your have read and understood the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy  [PDF, 3MB]

• A new hackney carriage vehicle, including hybrid or fully electric vehicles, must as a minimum meet Euro 6 emission standards.

• The vehicle must be a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

• Category S vehicles will not be licensed.

• Category N vehicles will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

• The vehicle must be an M1 type approved vehicle or have an IVA certificate showing conformity to M1 type standards if the vehicle has been converted.

• The taxi meter must be calibrated to the current HDC Fare Chart

• The vehicle must be taxed and insured for the purpose of hire and reward.

• All vehicles must undergo a compliance test at Adam’s Autos. Please follow the link to book your test.

• All vehicles 8 years or older from the date of first registration will be required to undergo a compliance test every 6 months.

How to apply for a new vehicle licence:

Step 1 - Obtain a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for your vehicle

• You need to book your vehicle in for a compliance test at our approved garage Adam’s Autos, this can be done by visiting their website

• At the time of making the booking, you will pay the compliance test fee and provide your vehicle details.

• If the vehicle passes you will be issued a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) which you will need to submit with your online application.

• The testing garage will also send a copy of this to the council.

• At the time of your CoC, you can choose to have an MOT but this is not a mandatory requirement to licence your vehicle as a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire.

Step 2 - Complete the online application form

Documents required when submitting application form:

• A copy of the insurance certificate

• The original V5(c) logbook or new keeper’s slip

• IVA Certificate if applicable

• Passed Certificate of Compliance (CoC).

The new application form is now online. The link below will take you to the HDC Licensing Portal where you must register your details.

Go to application form

Read the guidance notes [PDF, 0.1MB] when applying. Please ensure you select the correct licence type you wish to apply for - PRIVATE HIRE OR HACKNEY CARRIAGE.

The Licensing Department will then process your documentation and be in contact within 5 days to advise collection of your vehicle plate.

However, if there is an issue, the Licensing Team will contact you via email, so please make sure you provide the correct contact information.

Important information

If your licence has expired, your application will be considered as a new application and must meet current Policy requirements.

From 1 January 2025 all non-wheelchair accessible Hackney Carriage vehicles, upon renewal, must as a minimum meet Euro 5 emission standards.

From 1 June 2025 all wheelchair accessible Hackney Carriage vehicles, upon renewal, must as a minimum meet Euro 5 emission standards.

Please note, if your vehicle does not meet the Euro 5 standards your renewal application will be refused. To allow for a graduated approach to the change in vehicle standards, if you currently licence a non-Euro 5 compliant vehicle you will be permitted to apply for a new vehicle licence with a Euro 5 compliant vehicle to replace your existing vehicle. The replacement vehicle must be a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

All vehicles 8 years or older from the date of first registration will be required to undergo a compliance test every 6 months.

How to apply for a renewal vehicle licence

Step 1 - Obtain a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) for your vehicle

• You need to book your vehicle in for a compliance test at our approved garage Adam’s Autos, this can be done by visiting their website

• At the time of making the booking, you will pay the compliance test fee and provide your vehicle details.

• If the vehicle passes you will be issued a Certificate of Compliance (CoC) which you will need to submit with your online application.

• The testing garage will also send a copy of this to the council.

• At the time of your CoC, you can choose to have an MOT but this is not a mandatory requirement to licence your vehicle as a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire.

Step 2 - Complete the online application form

Documents required when submitting application form:

• A copy of the insurance certificate

• The original V5(c) logbook or new keeper’s slip

• IVA Certificate if applicable

• Passed Certificate of Compliance (CoC).

The renewal application form is now online. The link below will take you to the HDC Licensing Portal where you must register your details.

Go to application form

Read the guidance notes [PDF, 0.1MB] when applying. Please ensure you select the correct licence type you wish to apply for - PRIVATE HIRE OR HACKNEY CARRIAGE.

The Licensing Department will then process your documentation and be in contact within 5 days to advise collection of your vehicle plate.

Upon collection of your new plate, you must return your old plate.

However, if there is an issue, the Licensing Team will contact you via email, so please make sure you provide the correct contact information.

The Euro Emissions Table [XLSX, 20KB] can be used, alongside the vehicle's V5C logbook, to determine if your vehicle will meet HDC's policy for new and renewal vehicles.

Please follow the guidance provided within the table for full instructions.

If you require the licence holders for a hackney carriage vehicle to be transferred, you will be required to submit the following documents to the Licensing Department:

• completed HDC Transfer Application [PDF, 0.4MB]

• updated Insurance Certificate

• updated Logbook or Section 10.

Please send the above to: Licensing@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

Once received and processed, we will contact you for the £20 transfer fee.

View the current HDC Taxi Fares Table.

If your licensed vehicle has been in an accident, you are required by policy to inform the council with 72 hours of the accident.

This must be done by completing the Accident Report Form and emailing it to Licensing@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

Following an accident, if you require an insurance replacement vehicle, your insurance company must do the following:

• book a compliance test at Adam's Autos for the insurance replacement vehicle

• complete the HDC Insurance Replacement Application [PDF, 0.5MB]

• physical copy of the insurance certificate

• original logbook

• make sure the licence holder has submitted an Accident Report Form [PDF, 0.3MB].

Once passed you will receive a new Certificate of Compliance, and Adam's Autos will provide the Licensing Department with a copy of your documents.

The Licensing Department will then process your documentation and be in contact within 3 days to take the licence payment and advise collection of your licence.

However, if there is an issue, we will contact you via email, so please make sure you provide the correct contact information.

If you have changed address, you must inform us within 7 days by completing a Change of Address notification from [PDF, 0.1MB].

Please submit the above to: Licensing@huntingdonshire.gov.uk

Or posting to: Licensing Department, Pathfinder House, St Marys Street, Huntingdon, PE29 3TN

Once received, we will contact you for payment. A £10 fee will be required for each paper licence update.