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Procedure for accident reporting and hackney carriage or private hire temporary replacement vehicles

Reporting an accident

If you are a Vehicle Licence Holder and your vehicle has been involved in an accident, you must complete our ‘Accident and vehicle damage report form’ within 72 hours. If you were not driving the vehicle at the time of the accident, you will require information from the driver to complete the form.

Take photos of the damage and, if possible, remove the Hackney Carriage or Private Hire plates from the vehicle.

When the Licence Holder reports the accident to the Licensing Partnership, they should state whether the accident has been reported to the Police and whether there are any subsequent criminal proceedings.

Accident and Vehicle Damage report form

Following submission of the ‘Accident and vehicle damage report form’, we will visually assess the vehicle and aim to contact you within three working days to confirm if the Vehicle Licence has been suspended.

We will provide you with information to forward to your insurer. You will be contacted by your insurer and advised of the date your temporary plate can be collected from us. This will usually be at the same time the replacement vehicle is provided and your current plate must be handed over at the same time.

Obtain a temporary replacement vehicle licence (procedure for vehicle suppliers/ insurers)

We can issue a licence for a temporary replacement vehicle whilst the vehicle is off the road or being repaired.

To obtain a temporary licence, the Vehicle Licence Holder must take the following steps:

  1. Remove the hackney carriage or private hire plate(s) from the vehicle - if possible.
  2. Take photos of the damage.
  3. Complete our accident and vehicle damage report form and return to us at licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk with images of the damage.

We aim to contact you within three working days to confirm if the Vehicle Licence has been suspended.

If you wish to obtain a temporary replacement vehicle, we will provide you with information that must be sent directly to your insurance company. You will be contacted by your insurer and advised of the date your temporary plate can be collected from the Licensing Partnership offices that are located in Sevenoaks District Council. This will usually be at the same time the replacement vehicle is provided.

Procedure for vehicle suppliers (insurance company)

Prior to applying please ensure:

  • The replacement vehicle complies with the Tunbridge Wells Borough Council’s current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and is like for like. In the case of low emission vehicles (hybrid or electric), the replacement must also be like for like.
  • The vehicle cannot be licensed by another authority.
  • The Vehicle Licence Holder has fully completed and submitted our accident and vehicle damage report form.

Please follow steps below to apply:

  1. Complete our temporary replacement vehicle form and make the necessary payment, for fees visit Taxi Licence Fees page.

    The following documents must be supplied in support of the application:

    • V5 registration document
    • Full schedule of insurance cover
    • Letter authorising the use of the vehicle to the Vehicle Licence Holder
    • Meter Calibration Certificate (for hackney carriage Vehicles)
    • An Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) certificate if the vehicle has been modified

    Apply for a replacement Hackney Carriage or Private Hire plate

  2. Please contact one of the council's approved testing stations to organise a Compliance test.
    • Matfield MOT Centre, Gedges Hill, Matfield, Kent TN12 7EA – Telephone 01892 723123
    • Tunbridge Wells MOT Centre, North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent TN2 3DP – Telephone 01892 677747
    • The Choice Garage LTD, 12, 2 Kings Standing Way, Tunbridge Wells, TN2 3UP 01892 457 878
  3. Contact a member of the Licensing Partnership administration team 01732 227004 or licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk to confirm the date of the compliance test and book an appointment to collect the temporary replacement plate. At the scheduled appointment the licence holder/driver will be supplied with the replacement plate.

The replacement vehicle licence plate may be used for up to one year. However, it must be surrendered when the original licensed vehicle is due to go back on the road.

If the vehicle is going to be used for more than six months, a further Vehicle Compliance Test will be required. The Vehicle Licence Holder will be notified a month in advance.

Before we can return the original licence plate, the temporary replacement hackney carriage or private hire plates must be returned by hand to the Licensing Partnership Offices.

Licensing Partnership
Argyle Road
Sevenoaks
TN13 1GP

Telephone: 01732 227004

Email: licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk

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