Hackney carriage & private hire vehicles (Taxis), fitness inspections (MOTs) and retests

Norwich City Council licence all hackney carriages that ply for hire within the Norwich boundaries and private hire vehicles whose booking office is in Norwich. The council, through the Licensing section, has the legal obligation to ensure that the vehicles operated by private hire and hackney carriage proprietors licensed by Norwich City Council are fit and suitable for purpose (as detailed in section 48 (for private hire vehicles) and section 50 (for hackney carriages) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976). This process ensures that these vehicles have the correct mechanical test certificate (MOT) to allow them to operate safely. Under the Act, the council have a legal obligation to make sure this service is available for proprietors to have the fitness of their vehicles tested as well as any retests as needed by a contractor pre-approved by the council.

The council is looking to re-establish a framework of between three to five suppliers to provide this service. Should the council determine during the framework that additional suppliers are required; this would be accomplished via a further tendering process. Those suppliers remaining within the original framework would not be affected.

In 2014/15 there were 430 private hire and 330 hackney carriage tests undertaken and the anticipated figures going forward appear to be similar.