Private hire vehicle specifications

Made by virtue of section 5(1)(a) of the Plymouth City Council Act 1975

Plymouth City Council may licence as a Private Hire vehicle, any vehicle suitable for carriage of up to and including seven passengers provided that it has European Whole Vehicle Certification, and such vehicle complies with the requirements as laid down in these vehicle specifications and those of the Testing Addendum. Vehicles with a Low Volume Certification will be considered on an individual basis. Such vehicles may, if the Council so require, be presented to the Vehicle Inspectorate (or Council approved testing centre) for examination and receive from them a report indicating that the vehicle is fit for use as a Private Hire vehicle, prior to the issue of a licence plate from the Council. The fee for such test, which shall be determined by the Vehicle Inspectorate (or Council approved testing centre) shall be met by the vehicle owner, or such person presenting the vehicle for test. Costs will not be met by the Council. The vehicle must not be of such design or type as to lead the public at large to be confused with a Hackney Carriage. Additionally, all vehicles must have a category M1 classification.

All licensed vehicles must comply in all respects with the requirements of any Acts and Regulations relating to motor vehicles in force at the time of licensing. Including any conditions of licence issued by the Council.

The body must be a fixed head type. A sunroof may be fitted.

The steering wheel and driving controls must be fitted to the off side of the vehicle and shall have been at the time of registration.

All vehicles must have at least four doors, excluding any tailgate.

Estate and Multi Person Vehicle (MPV) type vehicles must be fitted with a grille or other manufacturer approved device, which prevents luggage entering the passenger compartment.

All vehicles should have a wheelbase of at least 96” and an engine size not less than 1290cc.

Windows must be provided at the sides and rear of the vehicle.

Rear passenger door windows must be available for adjustment.

No vehicle shall be fitted with any form of additional film to darken or tint the glass on any part of the vehicle.

Vehicles with third row of seats fitted at the rear of the vehicle must have ventilation windows available in the absence of an approved Air Conditioning system.

Passengers must be able to exit the vehicle without having to move any seat. If a seat is to be removed to comply with this requirement, it shall be removed from the nearside of the vehicle, from the row of seats, which are situated behind the front passenger seat(s).

Passenger doors must be capable of being readily opened from the inside and outside of the vehicle by one operation of the latch mechanism.

Approved central locking systems are permitted and must be in full working order. Double catches of approved types must be fitted to all doors.

The door to the offside of the vehicle fitted with sliding doors, must be capable of being opened only in the case of an emergency, unless that vehicle has an illuminated sign, clearly visible by day and by night, mounted on the rear of the vehicle in such a position so as to be readily seen by following traffic, but not so as to obscure the driver’s vision, indicating that the doors are opening. The sign must be automatically linked to the passenger doors in order that when either door handle is activated to open the door, the sign is illuminated. A warning notice must be affixed securely to the inside of the door so as to be easily seen, advising passengers to exercise caution when alighting from the vehicle.

Seating capacities

Where separate seats for each person are provided: one person shall be counted for each separate seat.

Where the vehicle is fitted with a continuous seat, one person shall be counted for each completed length of the seating area provided that the seat restraint belts are fitted for each seating position.

The licence number of the vehicle together with the number of persons that the vehicle is licensed to carry shall be permanently affixed and exhibited at all times on the outside of the vehicle in the form of the vehicle licence plate as issued by the Council. ie on the rear licence plate and the front door licence plate signs. Magnetic signs are not permitted.

A manufacturer’s specified original heating and ventilation system must be fitted and fully operational for the driver and passengers.

All body parts and trimmings that are manufacturers original equipment such as wheel trims, mirrors, bumpers, valances, fabrics, switches, internal and external door handles and locks must be fitted and in good working order and or suitable condition.

All tyres and wheels (including the spare) must meet the legal requirements as to suitability for use on the vehicle and they must be kept in good order and at the correct pressures. A wheel brace and car jack to enable the effective change of a tyre and wheel must be carried.

Vehicles commonly referred to as “Eurotaxis” or “Eurocabs” or vehicles which could lead the public to believe that such a vehicle is a Hackney Carriage, will not be licensed as Private Hire vehicles by Plymouth City Council.

If a roof carrier is to be used for luggage or goods, in addition to normal luggage, it must be of a type fitted to the guttering or to the roof rails provided by the manufacturer. If a trailer is to be used it must be of an approved design and be clearly signed with the speed restrictions attached to its usage.

Any electronic communication equipment must be of an approved standard and type as required by regulation at the time of installation or test.

Radio TX aerials must be adequately affixed to the body of the vehicle, and if not permanently fixed must have a spring incorporated into the aerial between the magnet and the aerial so as to provide flexibility.

Roof signs must be of an approved type and meet the specifications of the Council.

Vehicles if fitted with roof signs or TX aerials whilst being used for the purpose of private hire, must, when presenting the vehicle for testing, have such items fixed in their normal working positions.

All registration marks must comply with the latest regulations.

A current certificate (or copy) of motor insurance (for private hire and reward) as required by any Acts or Regulations must be carried in the vehicle.

If a metering device is fitted in the vehicle for calculating the fare, such device must be of an approved type tested by or on behalf of the Council.

The vehicle including all fittings must be well maintained and kept clean.

The vehicle will at all times be subject to test and inspection and may if not properly maintained, or any part is found to be defective or missing, be served with a notice prohibiting the use of the vehicle until the defect has been remedied.

A set of spare lamps to allow replacement of the following on the vehicle, headlamps, rear lamps, brake lights, directional indicators and reversing lamps must be carried in the vehicle at all times. It shall only be necessary to carry one bulb for each type of external lamp. It shall also be a requirement that a spare fuse for each fuse rating shall be carried in the vehicle at all times.

Video camera monitoring devices, for the purpose of assisting driver safety, shall be permitted. If such devices are fitted within the vehicle, adequate signage must be displayed in the passenger compartment advising passengers that they are being monitored/recorded. It will be the driver/proprietors responsibility to comply with all aspects of the law regarding such surveillance equipment.

These specifications will be applied to all vehicles presented for licensing on or after 7 September 2004, and supersede all previous documents relating to vehicle specifications made prior to this date.

Notes

All ages refer to the age of the vehicle from date of first registration with DVLA. Vehicles with sliding doors not currently meeting the requirements of items 6 and or 7, will be required to meet those requirements within six months of the effective date above.

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