Vehicle licences
Tunbridge Wells Borough Council has imposed a number of conditions in relation to the type of vehicle that it will allow to be licensed as a Taxi. Therefore before purchasing a vehicle please ensure that you read through our hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy. We will not be responsible if a vehicle is purchased that is not compliant with the policy.
When first licensed, all vehicles must be less than six years old from the date of first registration.
'London' type hackney carriages and approved 'wheelchair accessible' type hackney carriages/private hire vehicles may be licensed for a maximum of fifteen years from the date of first registration, subject to six monthly testing by one of the Council's authorised garages.
Saloon, Estate, Hatchback or Multi-Passenger type hackney carriages/private hire vehicles, may be licensed for a maximum of ten years from the date of first registration.
In order to have your vehicle tested for compliance, you will need to contact one of our approved testing stations. Payment for this service is between the proprietor or driver and the nominated testing station.
Full details of the vehicle requirements can be found in the Hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy.
Apply online
Before you start
The following documents must accompany your online application:
- Registration document (V5 log book) and/or Bill of Sale
- Valid insurance certificate which permits you either to ply for hire or work in a private hire capacity, whichever is applicable to your application. Such insurance to be fully comprehensive cover. We will accept emails from your insurance company providing it is sent to licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk
- Payment of fee
Apply by post
To apply by post you will need to provide the following:
- Application form
- Original Registration document (V5 log book) and/or Bill of Sale
- Original valid insurance certificate which permits you either to ply for hire or work in a private hire capacity, whichever is applicable to your application. Such insurance to be fully comprehensive cover.
- Payment of fee
Postal applications to be sent to:
P.O. Box 182
Sevenoaks, Kent
TN13 1GP
Apply online
Before you start
The following document must accompany your online application:
- Original Valid insurance certificate which permits you either to ply for hire or work in a private hire capacity, whichever is applicable to your application. Such insurance to be fully comprehensive cover. We will accept an email from your insurance company providing it is sent to licensing@sevenoaks.gov.uk
- Payment of fee
Apply by post
To apply by post you will need to provide the following:
- Application form
- Original valid insurance certificate which permits you either to ply for hire or work in a private hire capacity, whichever is applicable to your application. Such insurance to be fully comprehensive cover.
- Payment of fee
Postal applications to be sent to:
Licensing Partnership
P.O. Box 182
Sevenoaks, Kent
TN13 1GP
Please contact one of our approved testing stations to book your test:
Matfield MOT Centre
Gedges Hill, Matfield, Kent
TN12 7EA
Telephone 01892 723 123
North Farm Coach Works
North Farm Road, Tunbridge Wells,
TN2 3DP
Telephone 01892 677 747
The Choice Garage Ltd
12, 2 Kings Standing Way, Tunbridge Wells,
TN2 3UP
Telephone 01892 457 878
Payments can be made:
- using a debit or credit card by calling (01732) 227 001
- in person at our Gateway office. For details of how to find the Gateway and for opening hours, please see the Gateway pages
Some documents on this page may not be in an accessible format. If you require any documents in an accessible format, please complete our online form to request them.