This document explains when the reforms will be rolled out and how they will affect licence holders.
How will changes affect me? - text version
Reforms to vehicle licensing
© Commission for Taxi Regulation V1/December 2009
When will the reforms to vehicle licensing be introduced?
To minimise the transitional effects the Commission will roll out the revised vehicle licensing standards as follows:
Stage 1
Drafting and notification
Nov–Dec 2009
•
Final regulations drafted
•
Licence holders notified of upcoming changes
Stage 2
Notice period for licence holders / change in service network
Jan – March 2010
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For the first three months of 2010, existing licensing rules and requirements under the new service will remain largely the same
•
Licence holders will be advised through reminder and other information means of the steps to complete before 31st March 2010
Stage 3
New rules apply / licensing processes change
April 2010
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From 6th April 2010, vehicle licensing processes will change with immediate effect to reflect the reforms announced on 15th October 2009
What do the reforms to vehicle licensing mean for me?
New licences only available for wheelchair accessible and limousine categories
What does this mean?
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The Commission is giving the industry three months notice before the issuing of wheelchair accessible taxi and hackney licences only.
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All conditional offers made before then must be completed by 31st March 2010. For example, a conditional offer made on 15th March will only have 17 days to complete the application.
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From 6th April 2010 the Commission will issue only new wheelchair accessible taxi and hackney licences. In order to differentiate these licences (and their standards) the first licence issued after 6th April 2010 will be 47,001.
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The Commission will continue to issue limousine licences.
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All current wheelchair accessible licences will not be subject to any additional suitability standards until their renewal during 2012.
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Licence holders will be notified in advance of the rollout of these requirements.
Reforms to vehicle licensing
© Commission for Taxi Regulation V1/December 2009
Transferring licences – no more transferring of wheelchair accessible licences and one more transfer only for taxi licences
What does this mean?
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From 6th April 2010 all wheelchair accessible licences will no longer be transferable and existing taxi licences may only be transferred one more time. Hackney and limousine licences remain non?transferable
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From April 2010, if you transfer the ownership of your licence the vehicle associated with that licence must be under 3 years old, including licences and vehicles sold as a “package”. The vehicle does not have to meet the additional size/luggage capacity standards until renewal during 2012
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All new licences issued after 6th April 2010 will be non?transferable. These licences will be identifiable by being numbered above 47,000. The first licence issued after 6th April 2010 will be 47,001.
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Licence transfers continue under the current rules until 31st March 2010. No transfers made between now and then affect your right to one more transfer of a taxi licence after 6th April 2010.
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From January 2010 there will no longer be a walk?in service for the validation of documents for transfer?of?ownership transactions. To transfer ownership of your licence you must do so by post. If a vehicle inspection is required, a separate booking will be made for the inspection and issue of tamper?proofs
Taxi and hackney change of vehicle – vehicle must meet nine?year rule
What does this mean?
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At 2011 renewal ALL standard taxis and hackneys must be under nine years of age. At 2012 renewal
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ALL standard taxis and hackneys must also comply with the vehicle size requirements (as now in force for taxi and hackney licences above 45,000).
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Any vehicles involved in a change?of?vehicle transaction for a hackney or taxi licence must meet the nine?year age rule from 6th April 2010 and at every subsequent renewal.
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Vehicles still require the Initial Suitability Inspection.
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For licences under 45,000 no additional vehicle size criteria apply until renewal during 2012.
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This age rule does not apply to limousines or wheelchair accessible vehicles.
How do I calculate the age of my vehicle?
The principle is the same a calculating someone’s age using the date of the vehicle’s first registration as the date of birth (see below). The vehicle must be under nine years old on the day it is licensed. See example below:
Reforms to vehicle licensing
© Commission for Taxi Regulation V1/December 2009
Assuming date of renewal is 25/01/2010:
Date of first registration
15/01/2001
30/01/2001
Accepted for use as Taxi or Hackney
NO: 9 years and 10 days
YES: 8 years, 11 months & 26 days*
*please note that the vehicle registered on 30/01/2001 would not meet the licensing conditions for any subsequent renewal as it would be over 9 years old
The table below how the reforms will apply to you based on your licence number
Licence number
Taxis
Hackneys
Limos
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
Below 45,000 (Issued before January 2009)
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If a change of vehicle is carried out the new vehicle must meet the nine?year rule and continue to meet that requirement on renewal
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No additional licensing conditions apply until renewal in 2012
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Licences may be transferred as normal until 2nd April 2009 and then only one more transfer is allowed
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If a change of vehicle is carried out the new vehicle must meet the nine?year rule and continue to meet that requirement on renewal
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No additional licensing conditions apply until renewal in 2012
•
Licence remains non?transferable
•
No additional licensing conditions apply until 2012
•
Licence remains non?transferable
•
No additional licensing conditions apply until 2012
•
All associated vehicles must meet new vehicle standards on renewal in 2012
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Licences may be transferred as normal until 2nd April 2009 but then will become non?transferable
Above 45,000 (Issued after January 2009)
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Licences will continue to be issued until 2nd April 2010
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All associated vehicles must meet age and size conditions
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Licences may be transferred as currently until 2nd April 2009: after that only one more transfer possible
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Licences will continue to be issued until 2nd April 2010
•
All associated vehicles must meet age and size conditions
•
Licence remains non?transferable
•
No additional licensing conditions apply until 2012
•
Licence remains non?transferable
•
Wheelchair accessible hackney not available until 6th April 2010.
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No additional licensing conditions apply until 2012
•
All associated vehicles must meet new vehicle standards on renewal in 2012
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Licences may be transferred as normal until 2nd April 2009 but then will become non?transferable
Reforms to vehicle licensing
© Commission for Taxi Regulation V1/December 2009
Licence number
Taxis
Hackneys
Limos
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
Above 47,000
(Issued after April 2010)
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Issuing of taxi licences temporarily suspended from 2nd April 2010
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All conditional offers must be completed by 2nd April 2010
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Issuing of hackney licences temporarily suspended from 2nd April 2010
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All conditional offers must be completed by April 1st 2009
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Hackney licences remain non?transferable
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Licences will continue to be issued
•
No additional licensing conditions apply until 2012
•
Licences remain non?transferable
•
Licences will continue to be issued
•
All licences issued will be non?transferable after 6th April 2010
•
Wheelchair accessible hackney introduced 6th April 2010
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All associated vehicles must meet new vehicle standards from 6th April 2010
