Apply for a vehicle licence
You need a vehicle licence with us if you want to use a vehicle that carries 8 or fewer passengers as a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle in North Northamptonshire.
For vehicles with 9 seats or more, apply for a Public Service Vehicle Licence.
Read our hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy conditions before proceeding with your application to ensure your vehicle meets the specifications.
Compliance inspection
Your vehicle will require a compliance inspection with a Licensing Officer to ensure that it meets the requirements of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy. To arrange your compliance inspection, provide the vehicle details and the area office you will be making your application to [email protected].
Vehicle Inspection
Before making an application your vehicle must pass a council vehicle test at one of our approved garages. The test is to ensure your vehicle meets the specifications of our licence conditions and passes a UK MOT test. This will then be required every 6 months.
As a renewal applicant, you should ensure your vehicle completes and passes these tests by the expiry date of your current licence. Vehicles under 12 months old only require an approved vehicle test when first licensed and 6 months thereafter, with no MOT until the vehicle reaches 12 months of age from the date of first registration.
You must make the appointment and payment for all tests directly to the garage.
| Garage | MOT test price | Price per vehicle for council test |
|---|---|---|
| Easy Auto Centres Unit 1 1 Telford Way Telford Way Industrial Estate Kettering NN16 8UN 01536 481415 | £24 | £24 |
| Easy Auto Centres Croyland Road Northampton Road Wellingborough NN8 2LB 01933 276451 | £24 | £24 |
| The Garage of Corby Unit 2 Darwin Road and Willow Brook Road Willowbrook East Industrial Estate Corby NN17 5XZ 01536 267722 | £30 | £35 |
| Vehicle Testing Station 5 Bradfield Road Wellingborough Northamptonshire NN8 4HB 07922 156598 or 07900 441445 | £54.85 | No cost |
Zones
Hackney carriage (taxi) vehicle licences are awarded in zones in North Northamptonshire - these are confirmed in Appendix D.
Apply
To apply for or renew a vehicle licence you'll need to upload copies of:
- original V5 vehicle registration document or new keepers slip (not required at renewal if there has been no change to the vehicle)
- original Insurance Certificate or cover note
- vehicle insurance documents that must cover you for private hire or hackney carriage work (if covered by fleet insurance you must also provide the schedule)
- vehicle lease or hire agreement (if applicable)
- MOT Certificate and Council Test documentation (from council approved garage)
- vehicle lease or hire agreement (if applicable)
- basic criminal record disclosure (DBS) provided within 4 weeks of being issued (if you're not currently a licensed driver with us)
When renewing you must ensure that your application is made well within a minimum of 6 weeks of the expiry of your existing licence.
If you are granted a licence you will be contacted to arrange an appointment for you to collect your licence plates and, if needed, for us to view the vehicle and any original documents.
You can log back in and return to a previously started form at a later stage.
Last updated 07 July 2023