Hackney Carriage Vehicles

Policy Changes 16 August 2023

Please ensure you check the current policy / eligibility criteria before submitting an application.

Timescales - The Licensing Team are currently short staffed and dealing with a high volume of applications and enquiries. Timescales for dealing with applications or enquiries may therefore be longer than advertised. We apologise for any inconvenience.

It is very important for safety reasons that members of the public do not get into any vehicle that they think is a hackney carriage unless it has the appropriate signs/plates displayed, and the driver is wearing the correct driver's badge.

All licensed hackney carriage vehicles must display permanently affixed licence plates on the front and rear of the vehicle.

There are currently a limit of 136 hackney carriage vehicle licences in the Borough.

Licensing Policy

With effect from 16 August 2023 the following changes will apply to the Licensing Policy:

  • There will be no age limit when submitting a new or vehicle change application; however the vehicle must be emission compliant (Euro 4 Petrol or Euro 6 Diesel)
  • Saloon vehicles will temporarily be permitted onto fleet. However, such vehicles will not be permitted to remain on fleet beyond the 1 April 2026, regardless of the age
  • The colour requirement will not apply to saloon vehicles (as per the above point)
  • The colour requirement will still apply to wheelchair adapted vehicles, unless the vehicle is purpose built. The specified colour is black.

Please note: A purpose-built Hackney Carriage is a vehicle that has been manufactured and sold by the relevant Manufacturer as a Hackney Carriage. A vehicle that has been manufactured and registered, but subsequently converted is not considered to be purpose built. Whilst vehicles converted by an approved company post manufacturing process may be permitted onto the fleet, it does not meet the definition of purpose built.

  • No vehicle will be licensed if it has been written off in categories A or B
  • Vehicles that have been written off in categories S and N will be permitted to be licensed providing the application is accompanied by a satisfactory AutoLIGN (external link) inspection report and certificate
  • The specification for window tints will now apply when submitting a new or vehicle change application and is as follows:
    • Front windscreen – min. 75% light transmission
    • Front side door glass – min. 70% light transmission
    • Remaining glass or rear side windows (exc. Rear window) - allow manufacturer’s tint to a minimum 20% light transmission.

Making an Application

Applicants are advised to read through and familiarise themselves with the current policy, eligibility criteria and the conditions which are attached to all vehicle licences prior to submitting an application. Failure to do so could lead to an application being rejected or refused.

As part of the application process the Licensing Team will begin carrying out a comprehensive check to verify vehicle details. 

Renewal applications can be made up to 8 weeks prior to the expiry date. Applicants are advised to submit an application at least 3 weeks prior to the expiry date.

The process for making an application is as follows:

    • Vehicle Log Book (V5c) (mandatory)
    • Bill of Sale (mandatory, except for renewal applications)
    • Vehicle Insurance (mandatory for renewal applications, but can follow for new to fleet applications)
    • Basic Disclosure (external link) (if applicable).  If you are not currently a licensed private hire or hackney carriage driver you will be required to provide evidence of a Basic Disclosure at the time of application.

If you are applying to transfer a licence from one proprietor to another, the above should also be accompanied by a consent form (see below):

  • Consent Form (to completed by each of the existing proprietors) (mandatory)

If you are applying to change the vehicle registration on an existing licensed vehicle, the above (with the exception of a bill of sale) should also be accompanied by proof of the change of registration from DVLA.

Application Timescales

We aim to acknowledge receipt of your application within 5-10 working days (subject to receipt of a complete application). The timescales only begin on receipt of a completed application, including all the required documents and the relevant payment.

Failure to submit a completed application, including supporting documents and the appropriate fee, within 5 working days from the initial contact, will result in an application being rejected.

You will be emailed a time and date for your vehicle to be inspected.

We aim to determine an application within 2-3 workings days of a satisfactory vehicle inspection result (providing we are in receipt of valid insurance).

Vehicle Inspections

Before a licence can be issued, vehicles must be tested to make sure that they are mechanically fit, safe and comfortable. 

You cannot currently book your own vehicle inspection.

Your vehicle must be disinfected before it's presented for inspection at the council’s Makerfield Way Depot.

If your vehicle fails a vehicle inspection or is booked as a non-arrival a further fee will be payable (including retests). 

Cancel or Change a Vehicle Inspection

To cancel or change an appointment that has already been booked (including a retest) please email the Licensing Team at your earliest convenience.  All appointments must be cancelled or changed a minimum of 24 hours in advance, not including weekends and bank holidays. Failure to do so could incur additional costs.

Check a Vehicle Inspection Appointment

You can check and confirm the date and time of any future inspection that has already been booked. You will need your full vehicle registration to confirm this information and details can be found at:

Paying for a Vehicle Inspection (fees and charges)

Licence Conditions / Byelaws

Front and Rear Licence Plates

All vehicles must display both front and rear licence plates, and they must be displayed in the authorised plate holders, obtained from the Licensing Department.

To purchase a plate holder a fee of £15.00 is payable, per holder and these can be paid for at Pay for Plate Holder.

Report a Vehicle Accident

As the proprietor of a hackney carriage vehicle licensed by Wigan Council, you must report any accident causing damage materially affecting the safety, performance or appearance of the vehicle or the comfort or convenience of persons carried in the vehicle.

All accidents should be reported within 72 hours of the accident, in accordance with the provisions of the Road Traffic Act 1988.

Fare Table

Hackney Carriage Ranks

Hackney Carriage Unmet Demand Survey

On Friday 11 November 2022 the Regulation Committee considered a recent Hackney Carriage Demand Survey.  A copy of the report is available via the following link:

Agenda for Regulation Committee on Friday, 11th November, 2022, 10.00 am (wigan.gov.uk)

 

Complaints

If you wish to make a complaint in relation to a hackney carriage vehicle, you can:

Please provide details of the vehicle including vehicle registration or plate number.

Protective Screens

Any addition of a ‘screen’ to this vehicle would not form part of the standard requirements and conditions, and therefore will not be examined as part of the inspection.

Wigan Council would not accept liability in circumstances where a screen has caused injury to a passenger or the driver, as we do not recommend or approve the addition of a screen in licensed vehicles.

Further guidance can be found at Safety Screens for Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (external link).

Public register

We maintain a public register of all current private hire vehicle licences.  This is updated on a regular basis.

© Wigan Council