Taxi licensing COVID-19 advice

National Lockdown restrictions changed on Monday 12 April

COVID-19 restrictions in Kirklees tells you more about what this means.

The alternative COVID-19 licensing measures set out here are only applicable during this period.

Both customer service centres are closed until further notice. We will put arrangements in place to notify licence holders once the centres are open again.

Taxi Driver Business Support Grant

You may be able to apply for a grant of up to £1,000. Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.

Testing for COVID-19

Taxi drivers are classed as part of the transport network. This means you can self-refer for a test if you experience any symptoms.

Sign in using the link 'essential workers'.
When you are asked, select the box for 'transport'.

GOV UK: Coronavirus - getting tested

Published guidance for the taxi and private hire vehicle sector

The Government has published transport guidance on the safe provision of transport services during the COVID-19 pandemic. There are separate guidance documents for transport providers and for passengers. Both guidance documents cover all modes. The guidance sets out government recommendations on who should be traveling and under what circumstances, and how social distancing rules should be interpreted. It also includes information about cleaning practices.

Licences, drivers and vehicles

Renewing licences

You can renew your licence three months in advance of its expiry date.
If you are due a DBS check when you renew, you should renew as early as possible so it is returned before your licence expires.
We no longer issue temporary licences when a DBS is pending.

If you are out of the country

If you are out of the country, you can email you application form to us, but it will be placed on hold until your return to the UK.
There is no need to send supporting documents and we will not take payment until you return to the UK.
When you return to the UK, contact us and we will let you know what to do next.

Licensing a vehicle between 6-10 years old

If you do not renew its licence, you can re-licence it. Email your application form to licensing@kirklees.gov.uk.
Please confirm in your email that you want to suspend completing your application due to the current situation. We will then log your application, and contact you when the service returns to normal to complete your application.
Unless your vehicle is declared SORN the vehicle is still required to be taxed and insured.

Vehicle emissions and wheelchair accessible vehicles

New vehicle emissions

All new vehicles to be licenced must meet these standards:

Petrol Engines - Euro 5
Diesel Engines - Euro 6

Check a vehicle's Euro standard: HPI Euro Emission Standards Checker

Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (ULEVs)

Must have less than 75 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g/km) from the tail pipe. Get vehicle information from DVLA includes CO2 information.

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAVs)

A vehicle made or converted specifically to accommodate one or more person(s) seated in their wheelchair(s) when travelling.

Upper age limits of ULEVs and WAVs

We may extend the limit to twelve years of age based on the individual merits of each case.

These are the things consider:

submission of a formal application (including fee)
the vehicle having a full service history
receipts of work and repairs on the vehicle
the vehicle and driver's history with the licensing service, including if the vehicle has failed any previous compliance test
complaints about the condition of the vehicle
complaints about the proprietor or driver of the vehicle
any other matters considered material to the application.

If we grant an extension, the vehicle becomes subject to two compliance tests per licence year.

New vehicles

We are only accepting applications for new vehicles where there are exceptional circumstances.
Before buying a new vehicle email licensing@kirklees.gov.uk with the reasons for buying a new vehicle. A licensing officer will contact you to discuss it.
Contact us as well if you don't know if your vehicle is classed as a new vehicle.
If you buy a vehicle is purchased that does not meet the emission standard we will not licence it.

Preventative measures

Wearing face coverings

All taxi and private hire drivers must wear a face covering in their vehicle.
All passengers must wear a face covering.
A driver can refuse to carry them if they are not wearing one.
You can also help reinforce this message to passengers when they book.

Some people do not need to wear a face covering, for example:

children under 11 years old.
someone who cannot put on, wear, or remove a face covering because of a physical or mental illness or impairment or disability.

Please consider this before refusing to carry a passenger.

More information:

Screens in vehicles

Protective barriers may be installed. This is decided between the council, private hire vehicle operators and the firm or individual operating the vehicle. They must assess the risk to drivers and passengers. They may also wish to consider:

Eliminating the use of face-to-face passenger seating
Use of ventilation
Reducing occupancy to individual passengers in the back left-hand seat for vehicles that do not enable 2 metre separation
Reducing occupancy in a larger vehicle.

More information:

Coronavirus (COVID-19): safety screens for taxis and PHVs

Maintaining social distancing

We have sought advice from our Infection Control colleagues about what private hire/hackney carriage drivers should do to maintain its social distancing requirements and to mitigate the spread of the virus whilst travelling and carrying passengers/goods. Their advice is:

If you are unwell or showing symptoms of Covid 19 (high temperature, new persistent cough) stay at home and self-isolate for 7 days and your household will also need to for 14 days. If you are in one of the Government identified vulnerable groups you should follow the Government's guidance for these groups.
Before getting into the vehicle and after leaving the vehicle you should wash your hands for at least 20 seconds in line with government guidelines, either using soap and water if this is not available hand sanitiser
Drivers should not be working if they are unwell or if they or household members are self-isolating with symptoms or if drivers have been written to by the NHS advising them to stay at home for 12-weeks.
The drivers of the vehicles should clean contact points such as door handles, hand grips etc. before and after each journey.
Drivers of vehicles should wash and dry the vehicle interior surfaces with soap and water at the end of each day.
Staying 2 metres or more away - clearly in taxis, this won't be possible a lot of the time. Where there is a Perspex screen between the front and back, this should reduce risk to some extent, but the screen will need to be kept closed. Windows should be kept open where possible as well to increase ventilation. Getting single passengers to sit as far away from the driver as possible is sensible.
The most effective measures at reducing the spread of the virus is frequent hand washing.

Refusing passengers

All drivers should take reasonable precaution to stay safe, including considering how many passengers you can take at any one time as a result of Government advice on social distancing. If you are taking passengers then you should also take reasonable steps to clean or sanitise your vehicle after each journey. The Institute of Licensing have published Can Hackney carriage and private hire drivers refuse to carry certain passengers through fear of infection?