Taxis (Hackney Carriages) and Private Hire Hackney Carriages
Hackney carriages (commonly known as taxis) are licensed in accordance with the provisions contained in the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
Taxis are licensed to stand for hire at a taxi rank or can be hailed in the street in the administrative area of the council with which it is licensed. They can also undertake pre-booked journeys anywhere in the country.
We do not limit the number of taxi licences we issue.
Detailed information on the requirements for a taxi can be found in Part 3b of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023-2027.
Intended use of vehicles
When considering whether to licence a vehicle as taxi you need to have regards to the nature of work that is to be undertaken. Applicants will be asked to provide details of the geographical area they will primarily work in, and the amount of time spent working there. There is an expectation that taxis will predominantly work within the administrative area of Shropshire Council. Where an applicant lives outside this area and/or indicates that a vehicle will be used outside this area, the application will be determined by the Council’s Licensing Panel. Panel Members will decide whether the Council can reasonably fulfil its licensing obligations if the licence was granted. Further information can be found at Appendix K (Intended Use and Licensing of Hackney Carriages) of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023-2027.
Does my vehicle need to be wheelchair accessible?
Yes. All taxi vehicles are required to be wheelchair accessible and immediately capable of transporting the user of a “reference wheelchair”. Specifications for a “reference wheelchair” can be found at Appendix J of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023-2027.
What are the emissions/age requirements for a taxi?
The following emissions/age charts are applicable to wheelchair accessible vehicles only.
New applications
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Period
- 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Euro 5 and where the vehicle is less than 12 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- Diesel
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 August 2025
- European emission / age standard
- Euro 6/Euro 6d and where date of first registration is on or after 1 September 2016
- Fuel
- Diesel
- Period
- 1 September 2025 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Euro 6 / Euro 6d and where the vehicle is less than 6 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- Full electric
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Any age
- Fuel
- Hybrid petrol
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Less than 12 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- Hybrid diesel
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Less than 10 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- LPG
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Less than 12 years old from date of first registration
Renewal applications
- Fuel
- Petrol
- Period
- 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Euro 5 and where the vehicle is less than 15 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- Diesel
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2025
- European emission / age standard
- Euro 5 / Euro 6 / Euro 6d and where the vehicle is less than 12 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- Diesel
- Period
- 1 April 2025 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Euro 6 / Euro 6d and where the vehicle is less than 12 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- Full electric
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Any age
- Fuel
- Hybrid petrol
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Less than 15 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- Hybrid diesel
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Less than 12 years old from date of first registration
- Fuel
- LPG
- Period
- 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2028
- European emission / age standard
- Less than 15 years old from date of first registration
What are the safety standards for licensing a taxi?
Taxis that have been specifically constructed or adapted for disability access and any M1 (not M2 or N1) vehicles that have been adapted to be a hackney carriage must provide one of the following documents in order to demonstrate that the vehicle has been converted to an acceptable standard:
- Where the vehicle has come off the production line as a purpose-built wheelchair accessible vehicle, there should be a Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) certificate which demonstrates that the vehicle has been constructed to an acceptable safety standard, providing there have been no changes to the layout of the vehicle since the VCA was issued.
- Where the vehicle is modified after production, but before first registration, there may be an Individual Approval Certificate (IAC) available, which will demonstrate that the adaptations have been tested by DVSA (VOSA) and are to an acceptable safety standard, providing there have been no changes to the conversion since the IAC was issued. This may be referred to as a Statutory Individual Vehicle Approval.
- Where vehicles are converted for disability access after first registration and have been submitted for a Basic Voluntary IVA (Individual Vehicle Approval) there should be a Certificate of Compliance (IVA 6). If the vehicle does not have a VCA certificate or IAC available, vehicles must be presented to the DVSA for a Basic Voluntary IVA inspection Class P – Personal Import. If the vehicle passes the inspection, it will receive a Certificate of Compliance (IVA 6). The Voluntary IVA checks the whole of the vehicle, not only the parts that have been converted and is similar to a very strict MOT test.
If you are considering applying to licence a vehicle that does not meet the above safety requirements, please contact the Licensing Team for further advice.
MOT requirements
As part of the application process, an MOT certificate must be provided. MOT certificates will only be accepted by the Council within 10 working days of the date of issue from the MOT testing centre.
Once a licence has been granted, vehicles are subject to additional MOTs throughout the licence period as follows:
- Vehicles, up to 9 years from date of first registration, must be submitted for an MOT inspection at 6-monthly intervals.
- Once a vehicle reaches the age of 9 years, in addition to the MOT certificate submitted with an application, it must have two other MOT tests per year; tests being spaced evenly throughout the year at four monthly intervals.
Does my vehicle have to have a meter?
Yes. All taxis are required to have a taxi meter which must be calibrated to ensure the tariff charged does not exceed the maximum fares set by the Council in our published table of fares. Full details of the taxi meter requirements can be found in Part 3b of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023-2027.
Where are the taxi ranks in Shropshire?
Within our area, ranks can be found in Shrewsbury, Ludlow and Oswestry. Many of the ranks are dual use. Locations and times that the ranks are available for use can be found in this document.
What are the conditions attached to a hackney carriage licence?
All proprietors of a hackney carriage licence are required to comply with the hackney carriage licence conditions of licence which can be found at Appendix C of the full Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2023-2027.
How do I apply for a licence?
Please visit our Hackney carriage licence – new application webpage for information about the application process and how to submit a new application for a hackney carriage (taxi) licence.
Please visit our Hackney carriage licence – renewal application webpage for information about the application process and how to submit a renewal application for a hackney carriage (taxi) licence.