Vehicle specifications for taxis and private hire vehicles

Specifications for taxi (hackney carriage) vehicles 

A taxi vehicle that is being licensed for the first time must:

• have less than 75 grams of CO2 per kilometre (g/km) from its exhaust pipe – ultra low vehicle emissions (ULEV) requirements
• be fitted with an illuminated roof sign – it must carry the word “TAXI” in black on the front and rear of the sign together with the Woking Borough Council crest at each end of the sign
• have an engine capacity of at least 1,300cc 
• have at least 4 side opening doors, which may be opened from the inside and the outside – applies to saloons, estates or purpose-built taxi vehicles 

For full vehicle specifications, read the taxi and private hire licensing handbook.

The vehicle will remain available for licensing, subject to passing the inspection process, until it is 12 years old. 

Specifications for wheelchair accessible vehicles  

A wheelchair accessible taxi that is licensed for the first time must be:

• be a new vehicle
• comply with the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

For full vehicle specifications, read the taxi and private hire licensing handbook.

Specifications for private hire vehicles 

A private hire vehicle that is being licensed for the first time:

• must meet the Euro NCAP 5-star safety rating
• must comply with Euro 6 emissions engine standard
• must be a 4-door saloon or estate car (convertibles and soft top vehicles are excluded) 
• will only be permitted with a sun roof if it does not exceed 50% of the roof area 
• must have an engine capacity of at least 1,300cc 
• must have a minimum seat width of 41 centimetres per passenger 

The vehicle will remain available for licensing, subject to passing the inspection process, until it is 12 years old. 

A vehicle which could be mistaken for a taxi, for example an LTI TXII vehicle, will not be licensed as a private hire vehicle.