Introduction
North Ayrshire Council is the "Licensing Authority" for North Ayrshire under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and is responsible for licensing:
- vehicles to be used as "Taxis" and "Private Hire Cars"
- their drivers.
The Council is legally prohibited from granting a Licence for a vehicle if it is not satisfied that the vehicle is both suitable and safe for use under the Licence.
To comply with licensing conditions, operators are required to present their vehicles to North Ayrshire Council’s Transport Hub for inspection on an annual or six-monthly basis.
The purpose of this document is to provide guidance for the Taxi and Private Hire vehicle operators within North Ayrshire and to outline the standards expected for the vehicle inspection. These are carried out by North Ayrshire Council’s Transport Hub at the West Byrehill Workshop, Kilwinning.
Vehicle inspections for "Taxis" and "Private Hire Cars"
Inspections are required in addition to the MOT test and must take place annually, unless the vehicle is older than 5 years old, where inspections will be conducted every 6 months.
Vehicles can be booked for annual or six-monthly inspections by contacting the Council’s Licensing Office. When booking, the operator will need to produce:
- the DVLA Registration Document ("V5")
- The Insurance cover-note or Policy
- If the vehicle has one, the MOT Certificate (under Road Traffic Act, Section 47, a "Taxi" needs an annual test after the first year since its First Registration, which is different from the rule for a "Private Hire Car" where the MOT requirement arises after the third year).
The Garage Inspection test is required to ensure that licensed vehicles are being maintained to a high standard and fit for use as "Taxi" or "Private Hire Car" vehicles. It is to a higher standard than the MOT test.
The test should not be used to identify faults or as a means to bring the vehicle up to the required standard. Vehicle operators should not presume that, if the vehicle has or can pass a standard MOT test, that it will pass the Council test, or that if vehicle has an MOT Certificate but fails the Council test, the Council test has been conducted wrongly.
The vehicle condition required to pass the Taxi and Private Hire Car vehicle inspection is higher than that of a MOT test. The list of standards required is set out below (see "Inspection Standards"), but the rule of thumb is that any area within a MOT inspection where a “pass with minor advisory” is awarded will result in a failure. "Pass with Minor Advisory" will alone cause a "fail" of the Taxi/PHC Section 10(2) inspection. The Licensing Committee on 16 May 2018 remitted to the Solicitor (Licensing) and Corporate Transport Manager to amend further the detailed wording of the Inspection Standards in light of changes to the MOT Standards.
The inspection will extend beyond assessing the mechanical condition, and will also cover bodywork condition, cleanliness and suitability to operate as a "Taxi" or "Private Hire Car".
All vehicles will be road-tested to ensure that systems and component parts function properly, and that the vehicle does not display symptoms indicating serious or otherwise undetected faults, for example steering and suspension. Taxis will undergo a combined meter and road-test over a pre-determined route from the Testing Station to the meter markers and return.
Testers responsible for inspecting vehicles are experienced professionals and are trained as DVSA Nominated Testers. They are required to use their judgement when conducting an inspection to determine the suitability and safety of vehicles inspected.
The inspection process
The Council's garage has facilities to enable the operator to view the inspection while it is in progress. Operators are encouraged to use these facilities so that, if there is a dispute about a defect, the tester can show it to the operator. Testers will explain defects and advise on the other areas of concern, but any disputes as to the test outcomes and failures should be directed to the Workshop Team Manger in the first instance.
Disputes
If a dispute is not raised at the time, it is possible that the tester will not be available. If a re-test is booked, the operator would have to pay a further booking fee even if the original test outcome is disputed. A dispute will only be considered if the vehicle remains at the Council's Transport Hub pending resolution of the dispute. If a vehicle is removed from there and later re-inspected, the Council does not know that the vehicle has not been repaired or altered in the interval. DVSA has no involvement in setting these higher standards, so any challenge to a decision under them will be dealt with by the Authority, not DVSA.
After the inspection
If the vehicle inspection results in a failure, it is the responsibility of the licence-holder to arrange any remedial work prior to being presented for a re-test.
In addition to the annual / six-monthly inspections, spot-checks on vehicle condition may be conducted periodically by an authorised officer of the licensing authority, or by Police, any of whom can remove licence plates and instruct remedial work to be carried out.
In such a circumstance, the vehicle must be represented to Transport Hub at West Byrehill, Kilwinning before approval and return of licence plate will be granted.
Inspection standards
Taxis and Private Hire Cars, will be inspected using both:
- the current MOT Inspection Manual – Private Passenger and Light Commercial Vehicle Testing (Class 4) and
- the "Additional Inspection Criteria" set out below.
Additional inspection criteria
Lights and electrical system
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check operation of reversing lights | Lights not working. Insecure, cracked lens. Insufficient illumination, water penetration or wrong bulb fitted. Must operate automatically on opening and closing any passenger door (if fitted) |
| Check operation of spot lights (if fitted) | Lights not working. Insecure, cracked lens. Insufficient illumination, water penetration or wrong bulb fitted. Must operate automatically on opening and closing any passenger door (if fitted) |
| Check operation of courtesy lights | Lights not working. Insecure, cracked lens. Insufficient illumination, water penetration or wrong bulb fitted. Must operate automatically on opening and closing any passenger door (if fitted) |
| Check battery and terminals | Insecure, leaking Corroded terminals |
| Check engine wiring wear | Wiring bared or not secure. Signs of chafing |
Drivers compartment and controls
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check driver compartment is clean and in good condition | Dirty/dusty. Contains any rubbish. Contains any items likely to interfere with the proper control of the vehicle |
| Check condition and security of driver’s seat & passenger seats | Seat insecure or structurally weakened. Padding or covering is seriously deteriorated. Seat belts must be operational and in good condition (not structurally weakened) |
| Check seat adjustment mechanism | Insecure, ineffective |
| Check steering wheel and drivers controls | Controls inoperative, ineffective, insecure. Damage to steering wheel. Movement between shaft and steering wheel. Excessive radial movement at top of steering wheel. Excessive steering shaft end float |
| Check Horn | Sound emitted not loud enough to be heard by another road user or pedestrian |
| Check Speedometer operation | Not working. Clearly registering incorrectly |
| Check the operation of heater and demist fan | Heater doesn’t emit heat. Ventilation not supplying adequate airflow to windscreen or car interior Insecure vents |
| Operation of fuel and temperature gauges | Both gauges must work |
Steering, drive and suspension
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Steering assembly for damage | Any sign of damage is unacceptable |
| Steering assembly for wear and leaks | Steering must be positive and free from wear and leaks |
| Clutch slip / drag / judder (or kick down and change speed operation on automatic) | Must perform to manufacturers guidelines |
| Prop shaft / drive shafts and gaiters for security. Signs of wear and leaks | Excessive play or leak unacceptable, Gaiters insecure or deteriorated to excess |
| Gearbox operation. All gears must work / engage | All gears must be easily selected. Gear stick must be secure |
| Transmission / axle noise | Excessive noise unacceptable |
Wheels, tyres and brakes
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check tyre type/size | Incorrect type or size (as per manufacturer's standard specification) |
| Check tyre condition | Tread depth is less than 2.00 mm. across 75% of the centre width of the tyre For the other 25% of the width, the tread must be visible (Unless it is a tyre defined as a raised tread shoulder). |
| Check wheels | Wheels different from manufacturer's specification. Any obvious damage to wheel or rim |
| Condition of spare wheel | Damaged and unsatisfactory for road use |
| Space Saver tyres | Slim / space saver type tyre must be to manufactures specification |
| Tyre inflation devices | Spare tyre may be replaced by an approved specified inflation system |
| Wheel trims | All wheel trims must match. Fail if damaged or missing |
| Condition of tools (if fitted) | Must carry manufacturers wheel brace (or acceptable alternative) and jack or B.S alternative. (Jack and wheel brace not required if the vehicle is not fitted with a spare wheel) |
Fuel and exhaust system
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check fuel tanks | Not original manufacturers equipment Leaking or insecure. Tank condition, free of excessive corrosion |
| Check (all visible) fuel system components | Overflowing, Leaking Fuel accumulating in/on any fitting or receptacle |
| Check exhaust system | Insecure, leaking / “blowing”, excessive corrosion. Not standard specification |
| Smoke emission | Failure to meet specified standards per vehicle type |
Vehicle cleanliness/appearance/structure
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check bodywork security/condition | Bodywork damage. Bodywork extensively corroded |
| Check paint finish | Different colours/shades. Not to a uniform finish. Surface deficiencies i.e. paint runs, peeling. Scratched to the metal. Broken paint surface |
| Check external cleanliness | Dirty/dusty exterior |
| Check vehicle underside | Not free from road dirt (Weather conditions will be taken under consideration). Excess grease or oil |
| Check engine compartment | Dirty, Greasy, Oily. Insecure components. Any leaks |
| Check passenger compartment is clean and in good condition | Dirty/dusty. Contains any rubbish |
| Check interior upholstery for security, cleanliness and condition | Upholstery, trim or headlining is dirty, missing, insecure, torn or in such a condition as to soil clothing or adversely affect passenger comfort |
| Ramps and steps for disabled access | Incorrectly/unsafely stowed, insecure, not in good condition, unstable |
| Check roof mounted “Taxi” sign (doesn’t apply to P-H vehicles) | Absent. Insecure. Fails to illuminate. Lettering missing / illegible |
| Check front and rear “Taxi” plate (Rear only for P-H vehicles) | Not displayed. Different. Not secure (plates must be secured to the bodywork, not in front or rear window). Taxi / P.H. stickers incorrectly positioned |
Doors, windows and visibility
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check operation of door opening mechanisms | Inoperative, defective. Door seals damaged/ missing |
| Condition of front and rear wiper blades | Must effectively clear screen. Must operate on all settings |
| Check windows (including view to front and rear) | Not made of safety glass. Crack, scratch or surface damage, which impairs the drivers vision to the front and rear |
| Window-Tinting (all windows, including the rear and side windows) | Any degree of tinting is a reason for failure, except where pre-installed by the vehicle's manufacturer |
| Window obstruction | All windows (including side windows) must be completely unobstructed, see exception details below |
Meter testing
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check Taximeter (where fitted), lights, seal and calibration | Incorrect specification. Missing or broken seal. Failure to illuminate. Fails road test. Defective |
Approved and non-approved additional extras
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Check fire extinguishers | Absent. Not easily accessible. Not properly secured. Discharged or lack of pressure charge. Damaged. Last maintenance check in excess of 12 months. Not conforming to BS 5432 |
| Estate type vehicles only | Dog guard type device not fitted |
Road test
| Inspection | Reason for failure |
|---|---|
| Steering | Vehicle veers, pulls or steers to left or right when travelling on the straight |
| Suspension | The vehicle rolls uncontrollably when driven. Shock absorbers don’t function properly Noise is experienced indicating a serious or otherwise undetected system defect |
| Brakes | The vehicle veers or pulls to the left or right whilst stopping. Vibration or noise is experienced indicating serious or otherwise undetected system fault |
| Road Wheels | Vehicle judders or vibration or noises experienced indicating serious or otherwise undetected defects |