Vehicle licensing

This 7 stage process is intended for new Hackney Carriage Vehicles. If your vehicle is currently licensed with us, you must use the renewal application form. 

Stage 1) Read and understand our policy, conditions and regulations covering vehicle licensing

Information on vehicle standards, including age limits for vehicles, fees etc. is available on the licensing webpages. We strongly advise all customers to read and understand all the provided information before you apply for a licence.

Note: The Council will not license a vehicle as ‘new’ over the age of 7 years, this includes vehicles where a previous licence has expired. This is in line with the Council's policy and conditions.

Stage 2) Check you have the required information, documents and means of making payment before commencing your application

You will need the vehicle registration and information from the documents listed below to complete the application form. Payment must be made online using a credit or debit card (make sure you have the permission of the cardholder).

1. Vehicle Bill of Sale
2. Vehicle Insurance Documents 
3. Vehicle Log book, minimum required V5C green slip if full log book not held
4. Meter calibration certificate

See also Stage 6 for MOT requirements

Stage 3) Apply for a Hackney Carriage new vehicle licence and sending us the required documents

You will make your online application and payment to us via a webform hosted by a company called Idox.

Please see our Guide to Making an Application Guidance Document.

To make your application click on the green button below:

Hackney Carriage New Vehicle Licence Application

After you have completed the application form, you must send scanned copies of the documents listed in stage 2 to licensing@reigate-banstead.gov.uk with the word NEW and your car registration in the subject title.

Stage 4) Receipt of confirmation email regarding documents submitted

On receipt of your documents, we will email you confirming which documents are incomplete/missing or alternatively that everything is satisfactory, and you may proceed to stage 5.

Stage 5) Book and Pay for an appointment at our depot

You should not start this stage until you have a confirmation email that your documents are satisfactory.  The email will contain a licence reference number which you must quote in your booking. If you attempt to have your vehicle inspected whilst documentation or information is outstanding, we WILL NOT plate your vehicle and your application may be refused.

Book and Pay for a Depot Appointment

Make a note of the date and time of the appointment in your diary and note the MOT certificate requirement below.

Stage 6) Attend your appointment at our depot

The vehicle will be inspected at Earlswood Depot, Horley Rd, Redhill RH1 6PN. 

You must arrange for the vehicle to pass an MOT inspection within the 28 days prior to your appointment (unless the vehicle is brand new and has less than 1000 miles on the clock at the time of the inspection).

Important Information Depot Vehicle Appointments

Instructions to depot visitors

• Arrive in plenty of time for your appointment. If you miss the start time your appointment will  be cancelled, you will not be entitled to a refund and will need to rebook and pay for another appointment.
• Park you vehicle on site in the marked MOT bay.
• Announce your arrival to the officers in the MOT reception area and wait there.
• Do not wander around the site or workshop.
• Be advised there is no access to toilet facilities or tea, coffee, water.

The vehicle must be in immaculate condition inside and out and must have:

• A spare wheel securely fixed inside the vehicle (space savers are OK). Run flat tyres/foam/air pump are NOT accepted. 
• A fire extinguisher Note: 1 kg dry powder.
• A first aid kit.
• At least one 'No smoking' sticker.

If any of those items are missing, or the vehicle does not meet the required standard, it will NOT BE LICENSED. A fee will be applied if you need to make another appointment to attend a further inspection.

Stage 7) Become licensed

Following the successful completion of your vehicle checks your vehicle will be licensed and plated at our Depot.