Hackney carriage vehicle licence

Only Chorley-licensed hackney carriages are permitted to pick up passengers directly from the street or without a pre-booking. 

We limit the number of hackney carriage licences we will grant and also regulate the maximum fare which can be charged for journeys within the district. View  hackney carriage table of fares (PDF) [27KB] .

We will only license vehicles with a Euro Emissions 5 Star or higher rating and an NCAP Safety rating of 4 or higher. All existing vehicles have to comply with these standards by 1 January 2024. Hackney carriages must be white in colour unless they are Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles. 

Apply for a hackney carriage vehicle licence

Before buying a vehicle, you should read our vehicle type conditions on page 26 of the taxi licensing policy (PDF) [795KB]  and be sure that the vehicle meets the criteria. It is your responsibility to ensure the vehicle meets these standards.

You should then contact us on 01257 515151 and arrange a new vehicle inspection and gather the following documents:

• insurance certificate, showing the vehicle is insured for public hire
• V5 logbook. If the full logbook has not yet been received, the V5C (green slip) is acceptable and you should provide the full logbook once received
• if only the V5C has been provided, a bill of sale, invoice or receipt
• HPI check, issued within 1 week of the application and from a council approved provider
• a meter calibration certificate
• where the vehicle is for use under a hire agreement, a copy of that hire agreement
• the fee.

A vehicle will not be licensed if it is licensed by another council. 

The vehicle should be presented at the appointment where it will be inspected by an authorised officer. As long as the vehicle passes this inspection, you will be able to submit the application and pay the licence fee. You will be given a unique number at this appointment to book an MOT and Taxi Test Inspection with one of our authorised garages. 

Once the licence has been granted, you will be contacted and informed that the plate and associated documents can be collected from the offices. 

You should read our hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy (PDF) [795KB] for full details of the application process. 

Application forms

Hackney carriage vehicle licence - new application (PDF) [88KB]

Hackney carriage vehicle licence - renewal application (PDF) [81KB]

Vehicle licence fees

Renew a hackney carriage vehicle licence

If you want to renew your licence, you should contact us by calling 01257 515151 to arrange a vehicle renewal appointment and gather the following documents:

• a fully completed application form
• insurance certificate, which shows the vehicle has been correctly insured for the currency of the previous licence
• V5 logbook
• HPI check, issued within 1 week of the application and from a council approved provider
• a meter calibration certificate
• an MOT and Taxi Test Inspection with one of the our authorised garages
• the fee.

Once the licence has been granted, you will be contacted and informed that the plate and associated documents can be collected from the offices.