Vehicle licensing

Book your depot vehicle appointment and Interim MOT Station appointments

Please be advised we are unable to plate your vehicle without you having made a valid application to Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to license your vehicle.

This page is intended to help applicants that have already applied for a new, are renewing an existing Private Hire or Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence, or arranging an Interim inspection.

You must ensure a new or renewal application for a vehicle licence has been submitted before you book your depot vehicle appointment. Any booking made without a valid application will be cancelled with no recourse to refund. A new appointment and fee paid will be required after an application has been submitted. A valid private hire/hackney carriage driver licence must be held before submitting a vehicle application and booking a depot appointment.

What type of appointment do I need to book?

Guidance is provided below on the type of appointment you must book via our online depot booking service to progress your vehicle licence application, or alternatively renew or retain an existing licence.

 We strongly recommend before booking your appointment you see our guidance documents at the footer of this page.  

Important notes: 

All new vehicles licensed for the first time must have an MOT carried out within 28 days prior to the appointment - this includes vehicles under 3 years old, but excludes brand-new vehicles with less than 1000 miles when it arrives at the depot for its inspection. This inspection will check the vehicle meets our licensing requirements.

The vehicle age is taken as the date of first registration. For a new application the vehicle must be less than 7 years from the date of first registration at the inspection date. Once a vehicle is 7 years old at the date of renewal, you must have applied and paid to renew before the licence expires.

We cannot renew an expired licence. If you have let your licence expire a new application must be made (and we will not license the vehicle under a new application once it is over 7 years old).

It is your responsibility to ensure the vehicle has a valid MOT at all times, which should be renewed 28 days before renewal inspection.

What type of appointment do I need to book?

Please see the below for guidance on what type of appointment you must book to progress your new vehicle licence application.

Interim Inspections may be booked at either of the two MOT Stations listed below.

Private Hire Vehicles

Hackney Carriage Vehicles

All renewing vehicles will require renew - safety check and relevant additional Interim checks following the grant of the licence.

Note: For Hackney Carriage Vehicles, if you have a wheelchair accessible vehicle, over the age of 7, you may be able to license this vehicle. Please contact the licensing department prior to making an application and booking your vehicle appointment.

Booking your depot vehicle appointment

Before booking your appointment please make sure you have read all of the information above and you have made your application to license your vehicle.

You must ensure a new or renewal application for a vehicle licence has been submitted before you book your depot vehicle appointment. Any booking made without a valid application will be cancelled with no recourse to refund. A new appointment and fee paid will be required after an application has been submitted. A valid private hire/hackney carriage driver licence must be held before submitting a vehicle application and booking a depot appointment.

Please note: Before you can book a vehicle inspection, may need to wait up to 4 hours after submitting an online vehicle licensing application, for the DSFX number to be validated.

Book your Depot Vehicle Appointment

Booking your MOT Station Interim inspection

Do not use for new or renewals

All bookings are made directly with the MOT Stations and payment of the £48 fee is also made directly to the station.

Due to the growing number of Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles, we now also use two local MOT stations to carry out interim inspections.

If you have already booked an interim at the Depot, you can cancel this appointment up to 48hrs before hand.

You can request a refund for the cancelled appointment by emailing; licensing@reigate-banstead.gov.uk

The MOT testers act as authorised officers under the LGMPA 1976.

How to book an Interim Inspection

All booking are to made by telephone to the MOT station of your choice on the numbers below.

When booking you must provide:

• Your Private Hire/Hackney Carriage Licence reference number (found in the bottom right corner of your paper licence, see image below).

On the day of the inspection you will need to provide:

• A copy of your current MOT certificate (paper or electronic).
• Proof of your current Hire and Reward insurance (paper or electronic)

What to expect at your appointment 

• Arrive on time, as with Depot appointments if you are late, your appointment will be cancelled, no refund will be given and you’ll need to rebook and pay again.
• Park your vehicle in the designated area.
• Report to the MOT reception and wait there with proof of MOT and Insurance
• Do not walk around the site or workshop.
• If your vehicle does not meet the required MOT standard and additional elements it will fail the inspection. A retest will be available within 7 days at the MOT Station.
• Failure to resolve the grounds for a failed inspection will result in a suspension notice being issued for that vehicle.
• If you don’t return within 7 days, you’ll need to pay £48 and book a new appointment.

MOT stations (for Interim appointments only):

1. AutoQuest Redhill Ltd, Unit 8, Reading Arch Road, Redhill, Surrey, RH1 1HG
   Tel: 01737 760 746
2. Sussex Auto Care Ltd, 33 Ormside Way, Holmethorpe Industrial Estate, Redhill, RH1 2LW
   Tel: 01737 772 200