A hackney carriage vehicle is used for the carriage of passengers for hire and reward.
Only hackney carriage vehicles can ply or stand for hire. A hackney carriage vehicle can be hailed by passengers on the roadside, it can stand on a rank to await the approach of passengers and it can be pre-booked by telephone.
Unlike private hire vehicles, a meter must be engaged during a journey in a hackney carriage vehicle. Once set, the regulated fare is the maximum amount which can be charged. A lower amount can be charged, but not a higher amount. If there is no agreement, the metered rate applies.
A driver does not have to accept a fare or journey outside the district.
A vehicle licensed as a hackney carriage vehicle continues to be a hackney carriage vehicle at all times and must therefore always be driven by a driver licensed by the same authority. The only exception is if it is being tested by an engineer.
New and renewal applications may be made in respect of any suitable vehicle under the age of 10 years. The age of the vehicle will be determined from the date of first registration as stated on the vehicle registration document.
No age limit will be applied to Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles, but they must have European Community Whole Vehicle Type Approval. This will be shown on either the vehicle’s V5 registration document, additional chassis number on the vehicle or by a Certificate of Conformity.
No licence application will be granted unless the vehicle has passed the test to the satisfaction of the appointed garage.
Download the Hackney Carriage Vehicle inspection form (pdf / 174 KB)
No hackney carriage vehicle will be granted a licence if it is licensed in another district due to the problems of meeting the variance in conditions applied in different districts and the enforcement of those conditions in cases of non-compliance, such as signs, suspensions or revocations.
All applicants will be required to sign a declaration as part of their application that the vehicle will be used predominantly within North Yorkshire.
Hackney carriage approved garages
Any DVSA-accredited MOT testing station in the North Yorkshire Council area. You must download the vehicle inspection form (pdf / 174 KB) and provide it to the garage carrying out the testing.
If your vehicle is already licensed by Harrogate please check with the Harrogate licensing team, as you may have already paid for your test upfront. If so, you should have your vehicle tested at Simon Graeme Auto Service Centre, Grayston Plain Lane, Hampsthwaite, Harrogate, HG3 2LY.
Preferred garages
In Scarborough – council in-house testing. You can book online via our MOT services page.
In Craven – Midgley Motor Cars, Airedale Business Park, Keighley Road, Skipton, BD23 2TZ.