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 Dover district is 69.
4. Vehicle tests
The vehicle, when presented for inspection must have a valid MOT certificate not issued more than 1 month 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.
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.
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 documents
The applicant is required to submit for examination:
- a valid certificate of insurance
- a valid department of transport vehicle test certificate (not more than 14 days old)
- a vehicle excise act 1971 registration document
- a valid insurance certificate for hire and reward and a current vehicle excise licence
- 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.
Contact the Licensing team
Telephone: 01304 872295
Email: licensing@dover.gov.uk