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Renew a Vehicle Licence

Use this service to renew a vehicle licence for a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle

We are currently experiencing problems accessing our systems which means Gloucester City Council are unable to send out renewal applications. Due to this, you will not be receiving a courtesy reminder when licences are due to expire.  Can you therefore be aware of your renewal date and email licensing@gloucester.gov.uk at least 14 days prior to your expiry date if your vehicle, drivers or operators licence renewal is due, confirming that you wish to renew attaching the necessary supporting documents. Payments to renew can still be made online and should be done before the date of expiry. Failure to renew on time may result in your licence not being renewed and a new licence application being made.

Coronavirus ( Covid-19) latest update from the Department of Transport (PDF, 375 KB)

Coronavirus ( Covid-19) Guidance for new and existing Taxi and Private Hire licence holders (PDF, 135.1 KB)

 

Conditions

Only vehicles meeting the city councils conditions will be licensed for hackney carriage or private hire use. These conditions include age, size, standards of comfort and ease of accessibility.

The range of vehicles includes saloons, estates, multi purpose vehicles as well as purpose built and wheelchair accessible. All new additional hackney carriage vehicles must be wheelchair accessible.

If your vehicle is eight years or older than you'll need to provide a vehicle inspection certificate every six months.

Hackney Carriage Vehicles

  • must be white
  • must display Gloucester City taxi roof sign
  • must display blue licence plates in the window and on the rear of the car
  • must have a meter that must be checked at an approved testing station and display current tariff
  • card in vehicle
  • can use the Gloucester taxi ranks and be hailed in the street
  • can also be pre-booked

Private Hire Vehicles

  • can be any colour except white
  • must display yellow bus lane sticker
  • must display stickers indicating that passengers will not be insured if the journey is not pre-booked through the operator
  • must display yellow licence plates in the window and on the front and rear of the vehicle
  • can only take fares that are pre-booked through a licensed Gloucester private hire operator (summoned to collect passengers)
  • must not use taxi ranks or use a roof sign

The important difference between the two types of licensed vehicles is that hackney carriages (taxi’s) may be flagged down, may use taxi ranks and may be pre-booked. Private hire vehicles, however, must be pre-booked or the journey will not be insured.

 

Inspections and Insurance

We may check your vehicle to make sure:

  • it’s roadworthy
  • it’s comfortable and clean
  • the doors are safe and secure

You’ll also need insurance that:

  • covers you for hire and reward
  • includes you as the named driver

 

Are you planning to change your vehicle as part of the renewal application?

You will also need to make sure your vehicle meets the following criteria; 

All vehicles must

  • 5 years old or less from date of first registration
  • have 4 doors
  • seat up to 8 passengers
  • meet size and vehicle requirements, see our conditions, rules and policies relating to Private Hire (DOC, 250 KB) and Hackney Carriage (DOC, 275 KB) licensing
  • carry first aid kit and fire extinguisher
  • display ‘No Smoking’ stickers
  • meet Euro 6 emission standards, this information is on the V5 registration document
  • display their associated licence plates, the plates show the licence number, the vehicle details and the expiry date of the licence
  • charge according to the fare showing on the taximeter. The tariff is regulated by us Current tariff and estimated costs (PDF, 177 KB)
  • be licensed for 12 months at a time
  • have an annual inspection at our approved testing station. Current list of approved testing stations (PDF, 221.6 KB)

 

How to Renew

Only complete this application if you have received your renewal letter. You'll need your vehicle licence reference number to complete the application. 

Please read the conditions, rules and guidance before you renew, as different conditions apply to hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.

Coronavirus (COVID-19) protective screen guidance  (PDF, 144 KB)

Hackney carriage rule book (DOC, 293.5 KB)

Private hire rule book (DOC, 269 KB)

Vehicle Privacy Statement (PDF, 86 KB)

Application form (DOCX, 50.7 KB)

 

Pay Online

It costs £193.00 to apply. You’ll need your debit or credit card details

Pay online

You’ll usually get a decision within 14 days, but it can take longer.

 

You'll need to provide

  • V5 registration document 
  • MOT certificate
  • vehicle inspection certificate
  • meter inspection certificate (not required if previously provided and the tariff has not increased)
  • insurance certificate
  • a basic disclosure and barring service (DBS) certificate (not required if you’re a licensed driver with Gloucester City Council but you will need to provide your DBS certificate number)

If you have a fleet insurance policy you'll also need to include:

  • insurance certificate and a schedule of vehicles 

If you are applying to change a vehicle as part of the application you will also need to provide:

  • proof of ownership
  • meter inspection certificate if the vehicle has a meter installed
  • new keepers supplement if the vehicle has recently been purchased
  • MOT certificate (not required if the vehicle is less than one year old)