Your vehicle needs to be checked regularly to make sure that it is safe to be used as a licensed private hire or hackney carriage vehicle. Because of high workloads and mileage, it will be tested according to it's age. If your vehicle is older, then it will need to be tested more regularly.
Your vehicle must pass a compliance test at our testing station before we can issue a licence.
New vehicles
If your vehicle is new, then it needs to have passed a compliance test before we can issue a licence. This needs to happen even where it would not normally need an MOT test (if it is less than 3 years of age).
Before we can issue you with a test date you will need to make either a:
new private hire vehicle licence application
new hackney carriage vehicle licence application
Once your vehicle has passed the test, you must licence the vehicle within either 10 days (for private hire vehicles) or 14 days (for hackney carriage vehicles) of the vehicle passing it's test.
Vehicles already licenced
Your vehicle needs to go through a compliance test no more than 4 weeks before it's licence is due to be renewed.
When your vehicle is due to go for a test, we will usually email you about 6 weeks in advance with a date and time of the test.
It is your responsibility to ensure you licence your vehicle on time and email taxilicensing@sheffield.gov.uk or telephone 0114 273 4264 for a test date if you do not hear from us.
Changing your test date
If you need to change the test date, you should give us plenty of warning. We will accept nothing less than 24 hours' notice. If you do not give us enough notice to change the test, you will have to pay a missed test fee before you can rebook the test.
You need to attend your vehicle's test. If you can't, then you may be asked to bring your plate back to us for safe keeping.
How often your vehicle needs to be tested
The number of tests depends on how old your vehicle is.
Private hire vehicle testing
You will need to test your private hire vehicle at the following intervals:
- under 5 years of age – every 12 months
- over 6 years of age – every 6 months
Hackney carriage vehicle testing
You will need to test your hackney carriage vehicle at the following intervals:
- under 9 years of age – every 12 months
- over 9 years of age – every 6 months
The age of the vehicle and how often it will be tested is made clear by the V5C document that is presented when you apply for a vehicle licence.
Changing your test date
If you need to change the test date, you should give us plenty of warning. We will accept nothing less than 24 hours' notice. If you do not give us enough notice to change the test, you will have to pay a missed test fee before you can rebook the test.
You need to attend your vehicle’s test. If you can't, then you may be asked to bring your plate back to us for safe keeping.
Vehicles that fail
If your vehicle fails several tests in a row, you may be required to have your vehicle tested on a more regular basis. If this is the case, we will tell you the reasons why we are doing this. You will have to pay for up to a maximum of 3 of these tests in any 12-month period.
Fees
Compliance test
- Private hire - £54
- Hackney carriage - £59 (includes meter check)
Missed test fees
If you miss your compliance test, you will still need to pay a missed test fee directly to the test centre. You must do this before you can book another test.
- Private hire - £54
- Hackney carriage - £59
How we test
Our vehicle inspection and testing go beyond that of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) test. Because of the nature of taxi work done by hackney carriage vehicles, it is important that all areas of the vehicle are tested. We will check for:
- how it works
- how it looks
- how safe it is
Find out more about MOT testing standards and procedures.
What happens if it fails
If your vehicle fails several tests in a row, we may need to do more tests on it. If this is the case, we will tell you the reasons why we are doing this. You will have to pay for up to a maximum of 3 of these tests.
Where we test
Your vehicle can only be tested at our testing station on Shirland Lane. We cannot accept compliance and MOT certificates from tests done at any other testing station.
Our testing station follows best practice and guidelines developed by ourselves and the following organisations:
- Department of Transport (DFT)
- Drivers and Vehicles Standards Agency (DVSA)
- The Technical Officer Group of the Public Authority Network
Vehicle testing customer charter
Find out about the service we promise to offer when you book a vehicle inspection and test with us.