Notes On Hackney Carriage Licensing Procedure
1. Ownership of the vehicle
A Hackney Carriage licence may only be issued to an applicant
who is a proprietor (owner) of the vehicle either solely or jointly
with other persons whose names and addresses must also be specified
on the application form.
2. Change of ownership
A proprietor of a vehicle must notify the Council in writing of
the name and address of a person to whom the vehicle is sold or
transferred within 14 days of the transfer.
3. Restriction on numbers
At present the authorised number of Hackney Carriages in the
controlled District of Dover and Deal is 69 respectively.
4. Vehicle tests
The vehicle, when presented for inspection must have a valid MOT
certificate not issued more than 14 days in advance. A pre-delivery
certificate with delivery mileage can be accepted in lieu of an MOT
in respect of a new vehicle.
All licensed Hackney Carriage vehicles will be subjected to this
inspection on an annual basis. All licensed Hackney
Carriage vehicles three years of age and over will be required,
in addition to the above to have an MOT every six months.
When a licensed vehicle sustains serious accident damage it
shall be subjected to a further satisfactory MOT test prior to it
being presented back into service.
5. Taximeters
A taximeter must be fixed to every Hackney Carriage and must be
tested and sealed. If at any time after the grant of a licence, a
different type of tyre is fitted to the vehicle, and/or any
alterations are carried out to the vehicle which might affect the
reading on the face of the taximeter, and/or the seal of the
taximeter is broken, whether accidentally or otherwise, the vehicle
must be submitted for re‑examination and/or sealing of the
taximeter as soon as reasonably practicable or in any case within
one month or in such a further period as specifically agreed by the
licensing manager.
6. Vehicle Examinations
Any authorised Officer of the Council or any Constable has the
power at all times to inspect and test, for the purpose of
ascertaining its fitness, any Hackney Carriage licensed by a
District Council, or any taximeter affixed to such a vehicle and if
he is not satisfied as to the fitness of the Hackney Carriage or as
to the accuracy of its taximeter he may by notice in writing
require the proprietor of the Hackney Carriage to make it or its
taximeter available for further inspection and testing at such
reasonable time and place as may be specified in the notice and
suspend the vehicle licence until such time as such authorised
Officer or Constable is so satisfied.
7. Accompanying Document
The applicant is required to submit for examination:
(a) a valid certificate of insurance
(b) a valid department of transport vehicle test certificate
(not more than 14 days old)
(c) a vehicle excise act 1971 registration document
(d) a valid insurance certificate for hire and reward and a
current vehicle excise licence
(e) A pre-delivery inspection report in lieu of MOT for new
vehicles
8. Hackney Carriage Plates
A licensed Hackney Carriage must at all times have a plate
affixed to the outside of the vehicle as required by law. Such
plate will be issued by the Senior Licensing Officer. The plate
remains the property of the Council and must be surrendered when
the licence is surrendered, revoked or expired and not renewed.
9. Roof Signs
All Hackney Carriages must bear an illuminated roof sign showing
the word 'taxi' in conspicuous letters.
10. Advertisements
The only other signs permitted to be displayed shall be the
licence plate and a sign on the front windscreen bearing the name
of the firm and/or telephone number in letters not more than 22" in
height, the total size of the sign being not more than 15" x 4",
and the notices permitted to be displayed by the Hackney Carriage
byelaws.
11. Display of Charges etc
The number of the Hackney Carriage licence and a schedule of
permitted fares and other charges is required to be displayed
conspicuously to passengers inside the Hackney Carriage.
12. Licence Restriction
A Hackney Carriage licence is issued in respect of the vehicle
the registration number of which is shown on the licence and cannot
in any circumstances be an authority for the use of any other
vehicle as a Hackney Carriage.
13. Accident Damage
The proprietor of a Hackney Carriage must report to the Council
as soon as reasonably practicable, and in any case within 72 hours
of the occurrence thereof, any accident to the vehicle causing
damage materially affecting the safety, performance or appearance
of the Hackney Carriage or the comfort or convenience of persons
carried therein.
14. Offences
It is an offence to operate a vehicle as a Hackney Carriage
except that a valid Hackney Carriage licence is held by the owner
of such vehicle and a licensed Hackney Carriage may only be used as
such when in the charge of and driven by a person holding a current
Hackney Carriage driver's licence. The proprietor is required to
undertake that in the event of an application being granted the
vehicle will be used solely and whole time as a Hackney Carriage on
the understanding that in the event of the vehicle not being so
used the Council reserve the right to revoke the licence.
15. Fee
16. Period of licence
A licence taken out under this act shall be in force from the
time it is taken out until the expiration of the period of twelve
months beginning with the first day of the month in which it is
taken out.
17. Warning
Any false statement or information given to the questions set
out on the application form may result in cancellation of licence
and in this event, the fee paid for the licence will not be
refunded.
18. Byelaws
Hackney Carriage byelaws are in force in the controlled District
of Deal and Dover and they contain additional requirements. Copies
may be obtained from the licensing Officer for a small charge.
19. Right of Appeal
Any person aggrieved by the refusal of the Council to grant a
licence may appeal to the Magistrates Court.
Applications for Hackney Carriage Licences are to be handed in
person to the Licensing Section, Dover District Council, White
Cliffs Business Park, Dover, Kent CT16 3PJ (Telephone: 01304
872295).
Contact the Licensing Section
Telephone: 01304 872295
Email: licensing@dover.gov.uk
