Private Hire & Hackney carriage MOT's

RELIABLE MOT TEST CENTRE IN SOLIHULL

At Solihull Vehicle Service Centre, we MOT private hire vehicles and Hackney carriages for Solihull Council. With three qualified MOT testers on site, we can get you in and out within the hour, you just need to ring us up to book your time slot. We can also MOT long wheel based vehicles.

We have a comfortable waiting area with free hot drinks and a TV so you can put your feet up and relax whilst your vehicle's is being tested.

Below are a few rules and regulations that you may need to read before your MOT test.

What do you need to know before your mot?

A taxi MOT is made up of two parts, the normal MOT test and a supplementary test. There are a few rules that differ from the standard test so please make sure you're aware of these:

All tyres must be minimum of 2mm to pass the Supplementary. Please make sure you write your registration on the jack and spare wheel. Haven't got a spare wheel? You must have an in date tyre sealant in your vehicle.

On the grounds of public safety and safeguarding issues, the Council will only license vehicles that are fitted with manufacturers tints that allow a minimum light transmission of 20% or more. This policy came in to effect 4th July 2018. Please note any glass fitted that shows a light transmission below 20%, or any additional tint film, will not be permitted. Still unsure? If so we'll put our tintmaster on your glass free of charge and tell you the result.

All taxis plated with Solihull Council need to be in superb condition, this means the vehicle needs to be cleaned inside and out. Why not get a valet done before your MOT and help upkeep the great standards Solihull Council have set. Remember customers expect to be getting in to clean, tidy cars.

Is your taxi LPG registered? If so please make sure you bring with you an up to date annual safety certificate for the up and coming year.

Please feel free to peruse the guidance notes below.

Don't forget your:

No smoking stickers
Spare wheel and jack must have the vehicle registration on them
Vehicle needs to be clean and tidy inside and out
£20 deposit when booking your private hire MOT - you can pay the deposit over the phone via card or by cash

Our MOT prices:

Private Hire MOT (Taxis) - £75.93

Hackney Carriage MOT - £75.93

If you have any queries about the private hire MOT, get in touch with our team today.

PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLE LICENCE – GUIDANCE NOTES

Once you have been granted a Private Hire Driver’s licence and have been issued with a badge, you may then licence your own vehicle for use as a Private Hire Vehicle.

The vehicle must comply with the following conditions:-

Be capable of carrying at least 4 but no more than 8 passengers 

Have an engine size of at least 1400cc 

Have a minimum of 4 opening doors

Although there are currently no age restrictions on the vehicle at the moment, the Council may be looking at introducing an age restrictions in the future. However please be mindful that some Solihull licensed Private Hire Operators do operate an age restriction.

Before taking your vehicle for a ‘Taxi’ MOT, the vehicle should be steam cleaned, be in a good mechanical condition, the bodywork should be clean and free from any rust and dents. All fittings should be secure and the interior should be in good order, clean, free of grease and unsightly marks. The seating upholstery should be in good clean condition and free of any tears and cuts.

Drivers no longer need to carry a first aid kit or a fire extinguisher. If drivers do decide to carry these two items it will be their responsibility to make sure that they are maintained to a satisfactory standard.
The Council will only license vehicles that are fitted with manufacturers tints that allow a minimum light transmission of 20% or more. This policy came in to effect 4th July 2018. Please note any glass fitted that shows a light transmission below 20%, will not be permitted.
If you are looking to buy a vehicle for taxi/private hire uses ensure that no additional tints have been fitted to any of the windows.
All vehicles must carry either a full sized spare wheel or have the original manufacturers space saver wheel which should carry the marking on either the tyre or wheel rim ‘Maximum speed 50 MPH’. The space saver wheel must not be fitted to the vehicle at the time of test. The registration number of the vehicle must be marked on the spare wheel. Alternatively, they may carry an appropriate and adequate tyre sealant made available for inspection at the time of the test to suit the size and type of tyre fitted on that vehicle and which must be within its shelf life.
All four wheels must be of the same design including alloy wheel centre discs. Vehicles without alloys must have wheel trims fitted. All wheel trims must be matching and securely fixed. The locking wheel nut adapter must be present at the time of the test.
Vehicles converted from vans which have a type approval other than M1 will not be acceptable unless they are presented with approved M1 certification for that vehicle. If a vehicle has been registered with DVLA and issued with an appropriate registration index number, no change, structural alteration or rearrangement of detail shall be carried out to the vehicle unless such change shall have been subsequently granted M1 Whole Type Approval.
Any vehicles which have had their seating capacity reduced or increased in order to get a licence for Private Hire must also have an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test carried out. In the first instance applicants must contact DVLA, Swansea for the necessary application forms to be completed. For further information or advice you can either contact VOSA on 0300 123 9000 or DVLA Swansea on 0903 124 0003. All bolt holes where seats have been removed must be covered over. Any seats that have been added must be fitted to the manufacturer’s specification and pass the IVA test and have all the necessary documentation in place. Any Limousines, Imported and Converted vehicles from outside the EU will require an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test irrespective of age. Further Information and application forms for an IVA test can be downloaded direct from www.gov.uk website.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents Road Safety Advisory Group have investigated the safety of access and egress in Multi Purpose Vehicles that were used as passenger carrying vehicles. As from 1st April 2013, any MPV type vehicle will only be licensed if it meets all legal criteria, and drivers must demonstrate the workings of any folding/moving seats to their passengers when seating them in the rear seats.
All vehicles must display a no-smoking sign in a prominent position in each compartment of the vehicle in which people can be carried. The signs must show the international no-smoking symbol at least 70mm in diameter. There are no exemptions to these requirements. It is recommended that for most standard Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicles, two signs are sufficient to comply with these requirements.
Any vehicle fitted with a tail lift or lifting equipment must produce a LOLER certificate at the time of the test. LOLER stands for “The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998”. Lifting equipment includes any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads, including attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. Thorough examinations of the lift should be carried out at least every six months.
Applicants for a vehicle licence will now only have 10 days to bring in the garage test papers to plate a vehicle. Plates will now expire on the same date as the MOT, so it would be in the applicant’s interest to ensure that he/she gets the vehicle tested a month in advance.
All drivers will now be required to bring in the MOT certificate, the ‘Taxi’ test form, original insurance certificate or cover note and the V5 logbook when plating a vehicle. Licences will only be issued to the proprietor or keeper of the vehicle. The insurance certificate must accurately show the driver and vehicle details. Fleet Insurances must have a schedule attached to the insurance certificate listing all the vehicles and/or drivers covered under that fleet policy.
Any vehicle that is to be licensed as a Private Hire/Hackney Carriage vehicle must not have any damage affecting the structural safety of the vehicle. Any vehicle that is written off for insurance purposes will not be licensed, regardless of category. Applicants are advised that before purchasing a vehicle it is thoroughly inspected by a competent person and that a full HPI check is carried out on the vehicle.
All LPG converted vehicles must produce a certificate of conformity in line with the Code of Practice of the LPG Gas Association Regulations, at the time of the test. The certificate issued must be from an LPGA approved garage.
All brand new vehicles will now be subject to a full ‘taxi’ mot at a Solihull MBC approved garage. The licensing team will no longer carry out new vehicle mileage verifications. 16. All approved garages are entitled to charge a fee or a deposit prior to a test being carried out, to help ensure the booking is fulfilled. Any appointment made with a garage and subsequently not kept, or a vehicle arriving late for the test may incur an additional charge. Any retest fees are at the discretion of the garage.

Bring your vehicle over to our MOT centre in Solihull, or call Solihull Vehicle Service Centre on the number below now.

Call: 0121 258 0007