Vehicle licensing
Current statutory ruleLicence suitability safety insurance and number controls
Section 10 governs vehicles and does not establish a separate driver, booking-office or dispatch relationship.
- Vehicle Licence Required: Yes
- Grant Or Renewal Tests: suitable in type, size and design; safe for the licensed use; appropriate insurance or security in force
- Taxi Number Control: refusal to limit taxi numbers requires no significant unmet demand
- Private Hire Overprovision: refusal requires the statutory overprovision test
Current statutory ruleVehicle substitution and disposal duties
The claim records the current consolidated statutory vehicle provisions.
- Substitution: the licensing authority may permit another vehicle to replace the licensed vehicle
- Disposal: the licence must be delivered to the authority within 28 days after disposal unless the authority permits otherwise
Current statutory ruleStatutory processing duration renewal and appeal framework
These are outer statutory rules and do not evidence West Dunbartonshire Council's actual turnaround.
- Consideration Window: relevant application must be considered within three months from the relevant date
- Final Decision Window: a final decision must be reached within the following six months, subject to sheriff extension
- Ordinary Duration: three years unless a shorter period is set
- Appeal Deadline: summary application to the sheriff normally within 28 days
Current official sourceLocal taxi and private hire operating distinction
The distinction describes vehicle use and does not prove a driver licence, booking office or dispatch affiliation.
- Taxi: may pick up from streets and ply for hire in public
- Private Hire: all fares must be pre-booked and street pickup or plying for hire is prohibited
Current official sourcePublished vehicle types identification and zone marking
The page establishes published categories and markings, not the availability of a plate or vehicle.
- Taxi Types: purpose-built; adapted for wheelchair passengers; saloon
- Taxi Identification: roof sign; front and rear identification plates with council logo and a unique zone plate number
- Private Hire Identification: identification plates with council logo and a unique plate number
- Taxi Zones: Clydebank; Dumbarton and Vale of Leven
Current official sourceCurrent published vehicle test and mot requirements
The separate change-of-vehicle page uses a 30-day phrase; that unresolved wording difference is retained as a conflict gap.
- Test Frequency: vehicles are tested annually
- Mot Class: valid Class 4 MOT
- Change Vehicle MOT: vehicle page says an MOT certificate issued within the previous calendar month
Current official sourceCurrent post inspection document submission
The page does not state a complete initial grant evidence set or inspection appointment capacity.
- Channel: email to the Licensing Team
- Documents: valid Class 4 MOT certificate; pages 1 and 2 of the V5 vehicle registration document; valid insurance certificate
- Applies To Temporary Insurance Vehicle: Yes
Current official sourceCurrent vehicle upkeep and insurance responsibilities
These are the council page’s published operator reminders.
- Bodywork: no rust, dents, accident damage or missing body trims and paintwork in good condition
- Interior: clean, tidy and well presented with no upholstery damage
- Mechanical: maintained in MOT condition
- Insurance: valid insurance covering hire and reward at all times
Current official sourceCurrent published meter check arrangement
The current page does not state meter-check frequency, capacity or fee.
- Zones: Clydebank and Dumbarton and Vale of Leven
- Arrangement: operators are notified when a meter check is required and allocated an appointment
Current official sourceCurrent temporary surrender and resumption steps
The page does not state maximum suspension duration or guaranteed reinstatement timing.
- Surrender Notice: email the plate number and current vehicle registration
- Resumption Notice: advise the council in advance
- Resumption Documents: valid Class 4 MOT; pages 1 and 2 of the V5; valid insurance certificate
- Operation Gate: documents must be provided before the vehicle returns to the road
Current official sourceCurrent change of vehicle request channel and documents
The 30-day wording differs from the previous-calendar-month phrase on the main vehicle page.
- Form Channel: request the change-of-vehicle form by email
- Submission Channel: return the form and documents by email
- Documents: MOT carried out within the last 30 days; pages 1 and 2 of V5; current insurance certificate
Current official sourceCurrent change vehicle v5 insurance name rules
This is specific to the change-of-vehicle page and is not treated as the complete initial-application legal-structure checklist.
- V5: in the licence holder name or one taxi-partnership licence holder; otherwise provide registered keeper permission
- Insurance: in the licence holder name, one taxi-partnership licence holder name, or the company name for a company-held licence
Current official sourceCurrent change vehicle meter plate and operation steps
The meter evidence is taxi-specific in practice, while the council page addresses both routes; no private-hire meter requirement is inferred.
- Taxi Meter Evidence: calibration certificate from the meter provider is normally required
- Meter Check: council contacts the operator after operation starts to arrange checking and sealing
- Operation Gate: vehicle cannot operate until identification plates are issued and attached and all necessary documents received
Current official sourcePublished vehicle grant renewal variation application channels
Only the public pre-form landing pages were reached; the individual service title creates an unresolved private-hire scope ambiguity.
- Individual Vehicle Service: council-linked online service titled Application for a grant, renewal or variation of Taxi Licence
- Partnership Service: council-linked online service for taxi partnership or private hire car partnership grant, renewal or variation
- Later Workflow Entered: not entered
Current official sourcePublished 2026 27 vehicle and change fees
The 2026/27 PDF and live pages agree on the £886 vehicle fee and £186 change-of-vehicle fee.
- Effective From: 2026-04-01
- Taxi Grant Or Renewal Three Years: £886.00
- Private Hire Grant Or Renewal Three Years: £886.00
- Partnership Grant Or Renewal Three Years: £886.00
- Partnership Variation: £73.50
- Taxi Variation: £73.50
- Change Vehicle Including New Plates If Required: £186.00
- New Plate Large: £80.50
- New Plate Small: £32.00
- Displayed VATFor These Lines: dash
- Displayed Total Equals Cost Excluding VAT: Yes
Dated official source still linkedDated vehicle type approval seat door width and steering requirements
The document remains linked but dates from 2018; current confirmation is required.
- Type Approval: M1 full vehicle approval
- Passenger Seats: at least 4 and no more than 8
- Doors: minimum 4
- Narrowest Rear Seat Width: 122 centimetres
- Steering Wheel: offside
Dated official source still linkedDated saloon mpv and wheelchair accessible vehicle age rules
These are dated linked rules and are not asserted as a current consolidated policy.
- Saloon Or MPVMaximum Operating Age: 14 years
- Saloon Or MPVFirst Licence Before Age: 8 years
- Saloon Minimum Luggage Capacity: 323 litres
- Dumbarton Vale Replacement Rule: replacement with capacity for 5 or more passengers must be wheelchair accessible
- Purpose Built Or Adapted WAVAge Rule: no restriction on age at first use and may operate indefinitely
Dated official source still linkedDated operator driver permission list and insurance duties
The clauses come from a 2017 condition document still linked by the council.
- Driver List: keep an up-to-date list of drivers employed or authorised to use the vehicle
- Production: produce the list on demand to an authorised council officer or police officer
- Insurance: ensure vehicle insurance covers each listed driver
- Permission Change: provide insurance evidence when permitting a driver and written notice when permission ends
Dated official source still linkedDated plate sign advertisement and meter conditions
The 2017 schedule is not represented as current consolidated conditions.
- Plates: front and rear plates displayed in approved positions
- Taxi Roof Sign: taxi roof sign required
- Private Hire Roof Sign: roof signs prohibited
- Private Hire Advertising: prior written council approval required
- Taxi Meter: approved, tested and sealed meter required
- Private Hire Meter: if fitted, must meet council requirements and seals must be monitored
Dated official source still linkedDated substitution inspection and extended nonuse surrender conditions
Current guidance publishes a temporary surrender route but does not restate every dated clause.
- Substitution: prior written council consent and compliance inspection, plus meter checks where required
- Temporary Substitution: inspection and meter checks apply to both substitutions where applicable
- Nonuse Threshold: more than six weeks of the unexpired licence period
- Surrender Step: give notice and deliver licence and plate within seven days
Dated official source still linkedDated installed two way radio base location condition
This vehicle condition does not identify a provider, prove dispatch affiliation, acceptance, service availability or pricing, and does not source the radio_dispatch route.
- Condition: where a two-way radio or similar device is installed or available in the vehicle, its base of operation or control point must be within the licensing authority boundary
Current official sourceCurrent public vehicle licensing contact
These are public council contact details, not a commercial operator or supplier listing.
- Team: Licensing Team, Legal, Democratic and Regulatory Services
- Address: Municipal Buildings, College Street, Dumbarton, G82 1NR
- Telephone: 01389 738741
- Fax: 01389 738674
- Email: licensing@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Booking-office licensing
Current statutory ruleStatutory processing duration renewal and appeal framework
These are outer statutory rules and do not evidence West Dunbartonshire Council's actual turnaround.
- Consideration Window: relevant application must be considered within three months from the relevant date
- Final Decision Window: a final decision must be reached within the following six months, subject to sheriff extension
- Ordinary Duration: three years unless a shorter period is set
- Appeal Deadline: summary application to the sheriff normally within 28 days
Current official sourceBooking office threshold premises management records notice and duration
This is national guidance; no dedicated current West Dunbartonshire booking-office application page or local condition schedule was located.
- Threshold: bookings for four or more taxis or private hire cars
- Premises: the premises where bookings are taken must be licensed
- Holder: individual; partnership; limited partnership; limited company
- Manager: name the person responsible for day-to-day management
- Records: every booking; vehicle registration and driver name
- Licence Checks: ensure vehicles and drivers have the correct licences
- National Notice Duration Days: 21
- Usual Licence Duration Years: 3
- Online Application Statement: GOV.UK states that this licence cannot be applied for online
Current official sourceTax check conditionality and code
HMRC guidance does not list Scottish taxi or private-hire vehicle licences in this tax-check scope.
- Scottish Scope: booking office licence
- When Required: renewing the same type of licence; applying after holding the same type within the previous year; applying to another authority while holding the same type
- Code: nine-character tax-check code
- Code Validity Days: 120
Current official sourceFirst application tax responsibility confirmation
West Dunbartonshire Council publishes matching high-level local tax guidance, but the exact evidence field in a booking-office application was not verified.
- Scottish Scope: booking office licence
- When Applicable: applying for this type of licence for the first time; applying after the same type of licence stopped being valid at least one year earlier
- Requirement: confirm awareness of tax responsibilities to the licensing authority
Current official sourceRight to licence check scope and methods
No current local booking-office right-to-licence checklist was located in the bounded council-source review.
- Covered Scottish Licence: booking office licence
- Events: new application; renewal; extension
- Methods: digital status where prescribed; Home Office online service where available; current prescribed document checks
- Time Limited Status: licence duration must not exceed the permitted immigration period
Current official sourcePublished 2026 27 booking office fee and duration
The fee schedule does not supply a local application form, supporting-document checklist or observed processing time.
- Effective From: 2026-04-01
- Licence Label: Taxi Booking Office Licence
- Published Duration: 3 years
- Grant Or Renewal Fee: £1,305.00
- Displayed VAT: dash
- Displayed Total: £1,305.00
Current official sourceCurrent local booking office tax conditionality summary
The council page and HMRC guidance agree on the high-level booking-office tax routes.
- Applies From: 2023-10-02
- First Application: confirm awareness of tax responsibilities
- Renewal Or Recent Same Type: complete a tax check and provide a nine-character code
- Code Validity: 120 days
Current official sourceCurrent public booking office licensing contact
The contact page covers Civic Government licensing generally; it is not a dedicated booking-office application process.
- Team: Licensing Team, Legal, Democratic and Regulatory Services
- Address: Municipal Buildings, College Street, Dumbarton, G82 1NR
- Telephone: 01389 738741
- Email: licensing@west-dunbarton.gov.uk