What you'll need to renew a private hire vehicle licence
Find out what documents you need to renew a private hire vehicle licence.
Use your reference number to apply
You'll receive an email with a letter and instructions to tell you to renew your licence. Use the reference number on this letter to start your renewal application. Copy and paste the reference number to ensure it is entered correctly.
Upload your documents
Before you start your application, you need to make sure you have the following documents to upload.
You'll need to upload:
- an image of the Vehicle Registration Document (V5). It must include all pages and both sides
- a copy of the current Vehicle Insurance Certificate/Cover Note
- the pass certificate (the tick sheet) and the Certificate of Compliance issued by an approved garage (see below for a list of approved garages). The date of issue must not be dated more than 28 days before the start of your licence
- proof the vehicle meets our licence requirements policy
- CCTV Compliance Certificate - completed by one of our approved data processors:
- Basic DBS check - see below more information about providing a DBS certificate
- Proprietors of wheelchair accessible vehicles - you must ensure that all drivers of the vehicle have passed one of the following in the last 3 years:
- the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)
- equivalent taxis wheelchair exercise test
- the Catstream Drivers Disability Awareness Training
DBS certificate
You must upload a Basic DBS certificate if you are:
- not a driver licensed by Brighton & Hove City Council
- a company or partnership - each director and partner must provide this
Certificates must be dated:
- within the 12 months prior to application for new applications
- 12 months prior to licence expiry for renewal applications
If you hold a hackney carriage and private hire dual licence or a private hire driver licence with Brighton & Hove City Council, you do not need to provide a basic DBS certificate, as you have provided an enhanced DBS certificate already.
If the DBS certificate contains information, we will need to determine whether the individual is fit and proper to hold a licence, in consideration of the our guidance in the Blue Book, before we grant the license.
If you can't upload your supporting documents
If you can't upload your documents to the application, you'll need to email them.
Send an email to hco@brighton-hove.gov.uk.
Approved garages
Find a list of approved garages
Taxi and private hire vehicles are subject to a more extensive MOT. This is called a Taxi MOT. When you have completed and passed the Taxi MOT, you will receive 2 certificates. You need to provide these to the council when you renew or replace your vehicle.
This certificate of compliance replaces the standard vehicle MOT certificate.
Annual Mechanical Test for Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles
Bayleys MOT Centre
Go to the Bayleys MOT centre website.
Motest
Rivervale Cars Ltd,
Go to the Rivervale Cars website.
Mr Mot
Go to the Mr MOT Sussex website
Lee Hire Ltd
Go to the Lee Hire Ltd website.
Autofit
Go to the Autofit Sussex website
Smith & Humphries
75 Ninfield Road, Sidley, Bexhill-on-Sea TN39 5BB
HoveMOT.com