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VEHICLE AGE AND REGULATION SURVEY

This month’s tables set out the full council list of hackney and private hire vehicle age restrictions; specifically what age each council will first license a vehicle and the maximum allowable vehicle age.
There are various councils that don’t do this by age of the vehicle but by emission levels: please refer to the Key to Symbols and Emission Guidelines tables for further information.
We also highlight the councils that still impose a regulated cap on hackney carriage vehicles in their area and, where applicable, the numbers allowed. How does your council compare?

UNITARY AUTHORITIES
There are a number of unitary authorities which govern the fees for various licensing authorities. Click here to see a full list as your licensing authority might be among them.

Filter by Council:
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

KEY:
? = Information not supplied
N/A = Councils don’t uniformly have either a minimum age of vehicle or age to which it can still be licensed NEW Only new vehicles allowed for first licence
E = First licence age is dependent on emission guidelines rather than age of vehicle. There are various guidelines for each stated council. See individual table
▲ = Congleton only
* = No limit in regulation cap for WAVs in Fylde.
● Vehicles have to be new in Chester
× 15 years if WAV
✔ On application but council reviews on emission levels, no confirmed structure

CAERPHILLY

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CALDERDALE

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
8 10

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 37



CAMBRIDGE

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
4 9

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
4 9

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 321



CANNOCK CHASE

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
3.5 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
3.5 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CANTERBURY

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
2 10

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
2 10

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CARDIFF

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
2 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 946



CARLISLE

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
3 5

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
8 8

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CARMARTHENSHIRE

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CASTLE POINT

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
7 10

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
7 10

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CENTRAL BEDS

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CEREDIGION

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHARNWOOD

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHELMSFORD

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 14

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 14

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHELTENHAM

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHERWELL

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHESHIRE EAST

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 42 ▲



CHESHIRE WEST

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5● 10×

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10×

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHESTERFIELD

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHICHESTER

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHILTERN

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
7 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
7 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CHORLEY

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 36



CHRISTCHURCH

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
10 15

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
10 15

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CLACKMANNAN

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 55



COLCHESTER

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 12

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 12

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 131



CONWY

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



COPELAND

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 8

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 12

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 139



CORBY

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
VARIES N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
8 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 114



CORNWALL

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 207



COTSWOLDS

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



COUNTY OF HEREFORD

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
2 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



COVENTRY

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
10 N/A

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 859



CRAVEN

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 10

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



CRAWLEY

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
4 11

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
4 11

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 123



Some councils license vehicles based on emission levels rather than age of vehicle. These are detailed below.

Durham - Must be Euro 5 compliant
Exeter - Must not exceed stated CO2 emission level. See council for exact level
London - Euro 6 compliant (hackney) Five year Euro 4 (private hire)
Rushmoor - Needs to meet council guideline on Euro emission levels
Stevenage - Needs to be Euro 5 compliant (hackney)
York - P Euro 5 and D Euro 6 (hackney and private hire). See council for further guidelines

May we thank each licensing authority for supplying the figures for this table. We look forward to receiving information from those councils who have yet to respond.

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