New licences

We issue new vehicle licences for private hire only. This is due to a limit on the number of hackney carriages permitted in the borough. We don't currently have any licences available for new hackney carriages.

We issue new vehicles with a:

• 12-month licence; and
• six-month vehicle plate.

Vehicles issued with six-month plates

Before the six-month plate expires the vehicle needs to pass a MOT test at one of our approved testers. You'll then need to update your taxi licence details to send us a copy of the test certificate within seven days of the plate expiry date. When we receive this we'll issue the vehicle with another six-month plate that expires on the same date as the licence. This plate is free of charge.

When renewing the vehicle licence in future we'll issue both the licence and plate for 12 months.

Renewing a licence

To renew a licence you need to submit a valid application at least 21 days before the expiry date of the current licence. This is so you receive the new licence and plates before the current ones expire. We'll preserve the annual renewal date on the new licence and plates.

After receiving your new vehicle licence and plates you need to destroy the old ones.

Replacing a currently licensed vehicle

If you have a vehicle that's currently licensed and are replacing it, you can apply for a new licence by surrendering your existing licence.

You won't receive a refund on the licence fee for the currently licensed vehicle. Any time left on the existing licence won't be transferred to the replacement vehicle.

We'll issue the replacement vehicle with a 12-month licence and plate if:

• it's newer than the currently licensed vehicle; or
• it's an electric/hybrid vehicle.

The vehicle you are replacing must already have a a 12-month plate.

We'll issue all other replacement vehicles with a 12-month licence and six-month plate.

You'll need to destroy the licence and plates for your existing vehicle as soon as you've surrendered it's licence.

Vehicles issued with six-month plates

Before the six-month plate expires the vehicle needs to pass a MOT test at one of our approved testers. You'll then need to update your taxi licence details to send us a copy of the test certificate within seven days of the plate expiry date. When we receive this we'll issue the vehicle with another six-month plate that expires on the same date as the licence. This plate is free of charge.

When renewing the vehicle licence in future we'll issue both the licence and plate for 12 months

Accident replacement / courtesy vehicles

Private Hire Vehicles

To apply for a replacement private hire vehicle, the process is the same as for any other applicant. You need to complete the online application form and provide:

• An MOT certificate from a Barnsley Council approved garage (listed below)
• Valid insurance for private hire and reward that will cover the prospective driver;
• Evidence of vehicle ownership – such as V5, credit hire arrangement, bill of sale;
• A Basic DBS certificate for the vehicle owner;
  • If on the DBS Update Service, the applicant must provide the Enhanced DBS certificate along with a cover letter confirming that the applicant is happy for Barnsley Council to conduct a DBS Update Service check.
  • Note: if the vehicle is owned by a company, a Basic DBS certificate, or Enhanced DBS certificate and cover letter, must be provided for each director as listed on Companies House;

Please read through the taxi and private hire licensing policy before making application, especially the private hire licence conditions.

Hackney Carriage Vehicles

The vehicle must be white with black bonnet and boot, unless it is a purpose-built taxi, which must be black.

You need to complete the online application form and provide:

• An MOT certificate from a Barnsley Council approved garage (listed below)
• Valid insurance for public hire and reward that will cover the prospective driver;
• Evidence of vehicle ownership – such as V5, credit hire arrangement, bill of sale;
• A Basic DBS certificate for the vehicle owner;
  • If on the DBS Update Service, the applicant must provide the Enhanced DBS certificate along with a cover letter confirming that the applicant is happy for Barnsley Council to conduct a DBS Update Service check.
  • Note: if the vehicle is owned by a company, a Basic DBS certificate, or Enhanced DBS certificate and cover letter, must be provided for each director as listed on Companies House;

As there is a limit on the number of hackney carriage vehicles in our authority, applicants need to ensure that they do the following.

Firstly, when prompted on the online form, choose the option to “replace a currently-licensed vehicle with a new vehicle”.

Secondly, the current hackney carriage licence holder must provide confirmation to the Council in writing that they are temporarily surrendering the vehicle licence in order to allow the Council to license a new vehicle in the name of the accident/courtesy vehicle company. This can be sent to licensing@barnsley.gov.uk.

Please read through the taxi and private hire licensing policy before making application, especially the hackney carriage licence conditions.

Further information

We'll issue a PDF copy of the vehicle licence to the applicant. Once the vehicle is licensed, it can only be driven by an individual holding a valid dual driver licence with our authority.

Vehicle plates can be posted directly to the address of the driver, or any other relevant address, and you can provide a postal address on the application form.

Once the vehicle licence is no longer required, the plates and licence must be returned to the Council via: Licensing, Regulatory Services, PO Box 634, Barnsley, S70 9GG

If you have any further queries please contact us via licensing@barnsley.gov.uk.

List of our approved garages

Approved garages that carry out MOT testing are below.

Daily safety checks for licensed vehicles

As part of the vehicle licence conditions the driver of a licensed vehicle must make sure it has a daily safety check.

As a minimum this must be a visual check of all lights, oil, water, tyres, mirrors and seat belts. The driver must make a written record of each safety check and give details of any faults and remedial action they've taken. They must sign the record and it must be kept in the vehicle for a minimum of 30 days. After this time the vehicle licence holder must keep the record for six months.

The driver of the vehicle must be able to show the recorded daily checks kept in the vehicle to us if we ask to see them. The licence holder must be able to show us all of the recorded checks they have for the vehicle for the past six months.

You can download and print your own copies of our daily check sheet. You can also buy these from us in a booklet on our order taxi licensing items webpage.