The public must be safe and comfortable while travelling in a licensed vehicle so only vehicles which meet all of our licensing conditions and comply with MOT standards will be licensed.
Apply for a vehicle licence
Complete our application form for new vehicle licence, or to transfer an existing vehicle licence to a different proprietor.
If you cannot use the forms
Rental companies
Rental companies must register with us if they wish to licence a fleet of vehicles, please use our contact details to get in touch.
A driver must be an existing licence holder in the Leeds district and you need to produce a letter of permission to use a vehicle containing both the driver and vehicle details.
The driver must also produce a valid insurance document in the rental company’s name, order a new set of door stickers if needed, display their operator stickers and be issued with a new window disc.
Approved vehicles, safety shields, taxi meters and CCTV
Warning
We do not endorse the suppliers products, service or reputation and the council shall not be held liable for any loss caused arising out of or in anyway connected with the use of the suppliers products or service.
Private hire vehicles
There isn't an approved list of private hire vehicles as each make and model is assessed individually; the vehicle must be inspected on site by one of our vehicle examiners.
All private hire vehicles must meet set conditions to be considered for a licence.
Find more information in our:
Hackney carriages
We do have an approved list for hackney carriage vehicles.
You don't have to purchase vehicles of the type listed but you should be aware that if you buy a vehicle which has not previously been inspected and found to comply with our conditions, your vehicle will be subject to a detailed inspection by our vehicle examiners.
This is to ensure that the vehicle meets our licensing conditions and complies with the appropriate EC certificate of conformity.
Approved hackney carriages
Approved Hackney Carriages
Approved Hackney Carriages
| Make and model | Date approved | Authorising officer |
|---|
| Ford Mondeo | 21 September 1993 | Licensing Committee |
| Vauxhall Vectra (excluding 2.5 24 valve) | 12 February 1995 | Licensing Committee |
| Chevrolet Epica (2.0 VCDi LS, 2.0 VCDi LT, 2.0 VCDi LT Auto) | 24 June 2008 | Phillip Hatch - Acting Senior Vehicle Examiner |
| Honda Accord | 31 May 1999 | Peter Marrington - Section Head |
| Toyota Avensis | 1 July 2000 | David Everatt - Development Officer |
| Volkswagen Passat | 4 October 2000 | David Everatt - Development Officer |
| Skoda Octavia | 8 December 2000 | David Everatt - Development Officer |
| Mercedes C Class | 29 July 2001 | David Everatt - Development Officer |
| Mercedes E Class (E200 CDI and E220 CDI - not sport model) | 25 November 2008 | Phillip Hatch - Acting Senior Vehicle Examiner |
| Skoda Superb | 27 October 2004 | Martyn Johnson - Contracts Manager |
| Mazda 6 (not sports model) | 2 August 2006 | Martino DePlacido - Senior Vehicle Examiner |
| Volkswagen Passat 2005 (1.9 TDI S and SE model and 2.0 TDI S and SE model) | 17 November 2008 | Phillip Hatch - Acting Senior Vehicle Examiner |
| Volvo S60D5 and 2.4D (not sport models) | 4 February 2008 | Phillip Hatch - Acting Senior Vehicle Examiner |
| The new Volkwagen Jetta (1.6 TDI S and SE and 2.0 TDI S and SE model) | 23 September 2011 | Phillip Hatch - Principle Vehicle Examiner |
| BMW 5 Series (excluding M5 and sports models) | 7 September 2012 | John Mulcahy - Head of Licensing and Registration |
| Diesel powered Audi A6 S and SE (excluding S6 and sports models) | 14 November 2012 | John Mulcahy - Head of Licensing and Registration |
| Toyota Prius Hybrid | 2 July 2013 | Des Broster - Section Head |
| Diesel powered Peugeot 508 (excluding the GT and sport models) | 16 October 2013 | Des Broster - Section Head |
| Toyota Auris Estate Hybrid | 5 February 2008 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| Lexus IS 300 Hybrid Petrol | 28 March 2018 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid | 12 November 2018 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| Toyota Avensis Estate | 9 July 2019 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| Honda Civic Estate | 9 July 2019 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| Kia Optima Hybrid Estate | 9 July 2019 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| Kia Optima Estate | 9 July 2019 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| Lexus GS300 Saloon | 9 July 2019 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
Find more information on our hackney carriages conditions page.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
It is illegal to discriminate against wheelchair users. Licensed drivers are obliged by law to:
- transport wheelchair users in their wheelchair
- provide passengers in wheelchairs with appropriate help
- charge wheelchair users the same as non-wheelchair users
Under Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010, local authorities must produce a list of wheelchair accessible vehicles and you can view ours on
Leeds Data Mill
External link.
Approved wheelchair accessible vehicles
Wheelchair accessible vehicles approved for use as a Hackney Carriage
Wheelchair accessible vehicles approved for use as a Hackney Carriage
| Make and model | Date approved | Authorising officer |
|---|
Fiat Euro Cab 2000
With approved conversion from: Jubilee Automotive Group, Wednesbury, West Midlands (Six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 4 June 1997 | Licensing Committee |
Mercedes Euro Cab
With approved conversion from: Jubilee Automotive Group ,Wednesbury, West Midlands (Six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 4 June 1997 | Licensing Committee |
Volkswagen Sharran
With approved conversion from: Automotive Group, Newcastle-Upon Tyne (Four seats plus capacity for one wheelchair) | 25 March 1999 | Licensing Committee |
Peugeot Euro 7
With approved conversion from: CAB Direct/ Allied Vehicles, Glasgow (Six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 25 July 2003 | The approval for this vehicle was to the specification marketed by Cab Direct/Allied. There is dispute regarding legal and technical issues between two companies. In the meantime only that vehicle (originally approved, on 2.5.02) as marketed by Cab Direct/Allied is approved, until the issues are clarified. D P Broster Section Head |
| TX2 manufactured by LTI Vehicles LTD, Coventry(six seats plus capacity for one wheelchair) | 2002 | David Everatt - Development Manager |
Peugeot European
With approved conversion from: Cmak Coventry (six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 20 August 2003 | D P Broster - Section Head |
Fiat TW 200
With approved conversion from: Patons of Glasgow (six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 9 January 2006 | Licensing and Regulatory Panel |
Fiat Doblo Montblanc
With approved conversion from: Automotive Group, Newcastle-upon Tyne (four seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 19 October 2006 | Licensing and Regulatory Panel |
TX4
Manufactured by LTI Vehicles LTD, Coventry (six seats plus capacity for one wheelchair) | 10 November 2006 | Martino DePlacido - Senior Vehicle Examiner |
Mercedes T1 Euro Cab M1
With approved conversion from: Jubilee Automotive Group, Wednesbury, West Midlands (six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 7 June 2007 | D P Broster - Section Head |
New Peugeot E7
With approved conversion from: CAB Direct/ Allied Vehicles, Glasgow (six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | 1 August 2007 | D P Broster - Section Head |
Peugeot G8 E7 S and SE
With approved conversion from: CAB Direct/ Allied Vehicles, Glasgow (six seats including capacity for one wheelchair) | | D P Broster - Section Hea |
Peugeot Premier
With approved conversion from: CAB Direct/ Allied Vehicles, Glasgow (four seats or one wheelchair and one seat) | 30 September 2010 | John Mulcahy - Head of Licensing and Registration |
Citroen Berlingo 5
With approved conversion from: Automotive Group (four seats plus capacity for one wheelchair) | 30 September 2014 | D P Broster - Section Head |
Peugeot Eurotaxi
With approved conversion from: CAB Direct/ Allied Vehicles, Glasgow | 19 February 2013 | John Mulcahy - Head of Licensing and Registration |
Ford Pro Cab 7 seater
With approved conversion from CAB Direct/Allied Vehicles, Glasgow | 13 June 2018 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
FORD Pro Cab Euro 6 2018 model 8 seater
With approved conversion from CAB Direct/Allied Vehicles, Glasgow | 1 August 2018 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
| TX Electric Cab vehicle by LEVC (formerly known as the London Taxi Company) | 18 December 2018 | Andrew White - Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Manager |
Find more information in our:
Guide dogs
The Equality Act 2010 places a duty on taxi and private hire drivers to carry guide and other assistance dogs at no extra cost. Guide dogs and other assistance dogs can not be refused on religious grounds.
Drivers that cannot carry assistance dogs must carry a certificate of exemption, issued by the local authority, which confirms they have permission to refuse on medical grounds.
Contact us for the medical exemptions policy document and application form.
Safety shields, taxi meters and CCTV
We have an approved list of suppliers for safety shields, taxi meters and CCTV.
Safety shield suppliers
Taxi meter suppliers
Tariff meters may only be fitted to a licensed vehicle by an approved supplier.
The council has to be assured that the supplier has a full technical and working knowledge of the meter and the requirements in terms of its security (anti-tampering), tariff setting and correct fitting and sealing to the licensed vehicle.
An application to become an approved supplier must be made in writing and will be subject to consultation.
Any appropriate expenses incurred during the consultation and approval process will be borne by the applicant.
Approved taxi meter suppliers
Approved taxi meter suppliers
| Supplier | Date approved | Approving officer |
|---|
Brian Begbie: Euro MK11
01943 863514 | 8 June 2005 | Des Broster - Section Head |
Stanley P Autos: Digitax
0113 2721947 | 8 June 2005 | Des Broster - Section Head |
Mann and Overton: LTI
0113 3888600 | 8 June 2005 | Des Broster - Section Head |
Mr Ali Asghar: Halda
07815 091140 | 17 August 2005 | Des Broster - Section Head |
Mr Dave Oddie: Digitax
0113 2564069 | 17 August 2005 | Des Broster - Section Head |
AB Systems Solutions: Halda
07908 110919 | 31 May 2006 | Des Broster - Section Head |
Mr Roger Proctor: Halda
07884 378751 | 31 May 2006 | Des Broster - Section Head |
Mr Tahir Riaz: Viking and Euro Taximeters
01274 496527 | 11 December 2009 | Philip Hatch - Principal Vehicle Examiner |
Mr C A Anderson: Taximeter Services Mobile
07710 728778
01482 501370 | 29 June 2012 | Philip Hatch - Principal Vehicle Examiner |
CCTV suppliers
All CCTV systems to be fitted must as a minimum, meet the requirements set by Leeds City Council Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Service. Only CCTV systems meeting these requirements and approved by Leeds City Council can be installed into licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles. CCTV systems installed in licensed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles will be inspected prior to use and as part of any vehicle inspection to ensure they do not pose a risk to the safety of the passengers or the driver and are fitted safely and securely.
Approved suppliers
SAFE Systems CCTV
Unit 12, New Hall Hey Business Park, Rawtenstall, Rossendale, BB4 6HL.
Phone: 01706 551 212
Email:
info@safesystemscctv.co.uk
Contact us for the safety shield guidance and policy document and application form.
The safety shield fund is currently closed for applications.
Vehicle restrictions
Age
Different age restrictions apply depending on the type of vehicle.
Vehicles being licensed for the first time
The age of a vehicle is determined by the date of first registration on the log book. A vehicle will only be accepted for licensing if the date of first registration is less than 5 years from the date of application. The vehicle must be licensed for use within one month from the date of application.
Executive vehicles will only be accepted for licensing if the date of first registration is less than one year old on the date of first application.
Existing licensed vehicles
A currently licensed saloon vehicle will continue to be re-licensed for up to seven years from the date of first registration providing that all other licensing requirements relating to that vehicle have been complied with.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles
A licenced wheelchair accessible vehicle must normally not be more than eight years old. A replacement vehicle must be less than five years old at the date of application.
Extending a licence beyond 7 years
Tinted windows
It is considered necessary to ensure that council enforcement officers, the Police and members of the public can always see into a licensed vehicle in outside lighting conditions.
Irrespective of the type of glass fitted by the vehicle manufacturer, we will not licence a vehicle unless the glass has a minimum light transmission as determined by
regulation 32 of the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986External link.
Please provide your phone number, and if you are a licensed driver or operator, quote your date of birth, your badge or vehicle plate number when contacting us.
Email
Address
Taxi and Private Hire Licensing
225 York Road
Leeds
LS9 7RY
Monday to Friday, 9am to midday for drop-in business and 1pm to 3pm by appointment only.
Staff training every third Tuesday of the month until 10am.
