Any vehicle that seats up to eight passengers and is available for hire with a driver requires a private hire vehicle (PHV) licence. It is the responsibility of the vehicle owner to apply for a licence.
PHVs must display new signage containing safety information and how passengers can make a complaint about taxi and private hire services to us.
We have reviewed the existing signage in PHVs and combined all signage to reduce the number of separate signs that are displayed.
The two new signs will be installed in PHVs at the annual licensing inspections and placed in the rear window, visible to passengers sitting in the rear of the vehicle.
Signage for taxis and PHVs guidanceContact us on 0343 222 5555 or email ltphcontractsteam@tfl.gov.uk with any questions.
The private hire regulations have changed. You should familiarise yourself with the changes before submitting your application.
See our guidance for more information:
How to obtain a PHV licence Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing inspection manual Does my vehicle need to be licensed?Since 1 January 2023 all PHVs licensed for the first time must be zero emission capable (ZEC) and meet the Euro 6 emissions standard.
Please note that PHVs which are fully electric or have a hydrogen fuel cell will meet the new licensing requirements.
You can now book your vehicle inspection online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
This is often the quickest and most convenient option if you are the owner or registered keeper of a single vehicle.
You can book an appointment at a date, time and location to suit you. This function also allows you to cancel or reschedule your appointment.
To use this service please visit our customer account page.
Please note applicants will only ever be asked to pay the cost of an application, see table below for fees. We do not offer a fast-track service and will never charge more than the advertised costs.
If you have been approached by a third-party offering a fast-track service at an additional cost, this is fraudulent and you can report it to us at tphreport@tfl.gov.uk.
When attending a vehicle inspection centre, you will need to bring the following original documents (these should be printed where necessary as electronic copies are not accepted) as they need to be presented at inspection:
Retests and Refunds
You can also book your vehicle inspection by calling 0343 222 5555 (call charges may apply).
NSL inspection site addresses What to do following an inspection failure| Application fee | £84 (non-refundable) |
| Grant of licence fee | £56 |
There is an approvals process in place that must be followed for any aftermarket modification carried out to a licensed taxi or private hire vehicle. Therefore, prior approval is required from the vehicle policy manager before modifications are carried out. This is to ensure the modification is legal, safe and/or appropriate, avoiding any unnecessary expenditure and possible delays in the vehicle licensing process.
In general terms, all vehicles licensed should remain as per manufacturer specification, however, we will consider modifications where they are deemed necessary, such as disability and driver/passenger safety.
The licensing criteria in relation to aftermarket tinting of the glazing for taxi and private hire vehicles is:
Taxi = 75% of light must be transmitted through the glazing (i.e. maximum total tint value for all glazing = 25% tint value)
PHV = 75% of light must be transmitted through the front windscreen (i.e. maximum total tint value = 25% front windscreen); 70% of light must be transmitted through the front side windows (i.e.; maximum total tint value for front side windows = 30% tint value)
The tint value for taxis is laid out in paragraph 18.3 of the Conditions of Fitness (CoF) and states the maximum value of tint permitted to be applied to the glazing on a licenced London taxi is 25%.
The manufacturer's tint value should be taken into account if additional tint is being considered, as the overall tint value should not exceed the total tint value permitted.
The tint applied should also allow clear view into the driver compartment at all times, therefore, the use of "chameleon" tint type products is not permitted.
To comply with air quality standards, all taxis and PHVs must be within certain age limits to be licensed. However, a few exemptions mean some vehicles can be licensed for an additional period. Any application for an exemption must be submitted within the respective age limits (i.e. if the vehicle is older than the age limit, it will not be possible to make an application for exemption). Find out more about the exemptions: