Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Mechanical Standards

Hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are subject to much higher annual mileages and more intensive use than privately owned vehicles. The resulting accelerated rate of component wear requires a regular and thorough maintenance programme if the vehicle is to remain safe.

Safety is of paramount importance to the Licensing Authority and that is why every vehicle must be thoroughly inspected before a licence is issued for taxi or private hire work. If the vehicle is less than three years old it will be inspected by an authorised garage before the issue or annual renewal of the licence. If the vehicle is older than three years, it must be inspected by an authorised garage before the renewal of the licence, and again half way through the currency of the licence.

Since 1 November 2014, all vehicles inspected for the purpose of taxi and private hire licensing have been inspected for compliance with the standards as laid down in the Stratford-on-Avon District Council authorised testing station manual for taxis and private hire vehicles.

• View the current list of garages authorised to perform the inspection

Taxi and private hire vehicle inspections may only be carried out by a garage authorised to do so by Stratford-on-Avon District Council. If you are a VOSA-registered MOT testing station and are interested in performing these inspections, please read the inspection manual and get in touch.

For more information, contact the Licensing team:

• Email: licensing@stratford-dc.gov.uk
• Telephone: 01789 260211