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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

WAKEFIELD

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
YES 110



WALSALL

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
NEW 18

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 15

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WARRINGTON

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 149



WARWICK

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
5 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WATFORD

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
N/A N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 303



WAVENEY

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



WAVERLEY

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



WEALDON

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



WELLINGBOROUGH

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



WELWYN HATFIELD

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
4 8

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
4 8

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WEST BERKSHIRE

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 200



WEST DEVON

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
10 N/A

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WEST DORSET

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



WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
8 14

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

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 336



WEST LANCASHIRE

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
4 18

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 15

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WEST LINDSEY

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



WEST LOTHIAN

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



WEST OXFORD

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

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

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WEST SOMERSET

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



WESTERN ISLES

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



WEYMOUTH & PORTLAND

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
8 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 80



WIGAN

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 10

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
6 10

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 136



WILTSHIRE

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



WINCHESTER

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



WINDSOR & MAIDENHEAD

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
3 13

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
5 13

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WIRRAL

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

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

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
YES 289



WOKING

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

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



WOKINGHAM

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 200



WOLVERHAMPTON

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
N/A 16

PRIVATE HIRE
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
11 12

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WORCESTER

HACKNEY
Maximum age at first licence Age when it can no longer be licensed
3 8

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 231



WORTHING

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



WREXHAM

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

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



WYCHAVON

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

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

HACKNEY
Is there a cap on numbers Maximum numbers allowed
NO



WYCOMBE

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



WYRE

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 160



WYRE FOREST

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



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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