Apply for a taxi vehicle licence
How to apply for a vehicle licence
We're currently receiving a high volume of applications. After you've completed your application, please give us at least 7 days to process it.
We appreciate this can be frustrating, but please bear with us. Contacting us to chase your application can delay things further.
To apply, you'll need:
- a vehicle under 5 years old (if your vehicle is older, we won't be able to progress your application)
- vehicle insurance certificate
- logbook (V5C)
Apply online for a vehicle licence
Please note: Incomplete applications will be refused. You must ensure that documents submitted are valid and up to date.
More about vehicle requirements
Please download our licence conditions for more information:
Book your compliance test or MOT
The current authorised depots for compliance testing are:
Houghton Regis
Thorn Turn MOT Station
Grendall Lane
Houghton Regis
Bedfordshire
LU5 6GJ
Sandy
Sandy MOT Station
Beamish Close
Sandy
Bedfordshire
SG19 1SD
Book a test and find out more about our test centres.
Vehicle plates and badges
Vehicle plates and driver badges will be issued once all checks are complete. Driver badges and vehicle plates are posted to the driver’s home address.
Vehicle plates will be made as soon as possible after we receive the certificate of compliance.
Guidance for hackney carriage and private hire vehicles
The government's guidance for transport operators includes self-employed taxi and private hire vehicles.
The Local Government Association's guidance regarding protective screens covers hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.
Renewals
Renewal applications should be made no later than 10 working days prior to your licence's expiry date. Once we've got your application, we'll authorise you to book a mechanical test at either Luton Borough Council’s Transport Depot or Bedford Borough Council’s Transport Depot.
Vehicle licences cannot be issued until we've got the Certificate of Compliance. Although every effort will be made to issue a licence and plate straight away, there may be occasions when this is not possible. Please give us a minimum of 7 working days, from receipt of your Certificate of Compliance, to issue the vehicle licence and plate.
You're responsible for ensuring that the Certificate of Compliance is given to us. The transport depots do not issue the Certificate of Compliance directly to us.
Renewal vehicles must pass their annual inspection before the expiry date of their current licence.
Any vehicle not tested before its current licence expires will be dealt with as a new application.
Application form and guidance notes
Hackney carriage conditions (PDF)
Private hire vehicle conditions (PDF)
