Taxis and private hire Updates for taxi and Private Hire licensing

Expanded Additional Restrictions Grant - vehicle licence holders

We have been allocated £1.5m (out of £15m) of Government funding to create a grant scheme to support our licence holders whose businesses have been significantly impacted by COVID-19.

We do not require individuals to submit an application for a grant or provide evidence of financial impact against fixed business costs. All vehicle licence holders will be automatically eligible for a grant payment as follows:

  • Every current vehicle licence holder will get their next licence renewal paid for from the grant
  • Every routine vehicle test (on existing licences) will be paid for by the grant for a period of 12 months

When you renew your vehicle licence you will not have to pay for these services, we will cover the costs of each transaction with the Government funding.

Eligibility 

This scheme is for existing licence holders only. License holders must have a licence due for renewal between 1 March 2021 and 28 February 2022 to be able to claim the grant.

If you are a vehicle licence holder and have more than one vehicle you will be eligible for grant funds on each vehicle licence you have.

Only planned routine tests (based on age of the vehicle) will be paid from the grant (so either the 1, 2 or 3 tests per year your vehicle normally requires according to the current policy). Retests, ad hoc tests or tests rearranged because you failed to attend a  test appointment, will not be paid for from the grant scheme. Materials (plates etc) are also not included in the grant scheme and will continue to be paid for at cost to the Council as and when required at Lawton Street.

Unfortunately, drivers are not eligible for this scheme as we only have fixed funding of £1.5m. As a result, Members have agreed to prioritise funding for those that have the additional financial burden of ongoing vehicle maintenance during this difficult time and will face additional pressure of pending proposals under the Clean Air Plan and Minimum Licensing Standards.

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