There are five categories of SPSV licence; namely taxi, wheelchair accessible taxi, hackney, wheelchair accessible hackney and limousine.
The standards that are applied to these SPSVs to date are set out in various regulations dating back to 1961. Compliance with these regulations and standards are currently assessed and certified by SGS Ireland Limited on behalf of the Commission. All vehicles seeking to be licensed as an SPSV must pass an Initial Suitability Inspection when first licensed and a Licence Renewal Assessment every year on renewal. The Licence Renewal Assessment confirms that the vehicle continues to meet the same standards it met when first licensed. All SPSVs must also complete an annual roadworthiness test with NCTS Limited in order to have their licence renewed.
For more information on the Initial Suitability Inspection please see the Initial Suitability Inspection Manual.
For more information on the Licence Renewal Assessment please see the Licence Renewal Assessment Manual
A summary of the basic requirements are listed below.
Taxis and wheelchair accessible taxis
As public hire vehicles these must display a regulation roof sign and be fitted with a taximeter calibrated with the current National Maximum Taxi Fare tariff. Wheelchair accessible taxis are required to accommodate passengers wishing to travel in their wheelchairs with a defined wheelchair space and ramps to aid access etc. A minimum of 4 doors is required.
Hackneys, wheelchair accessible hackneys and limousines
As private hire vehicles the fare is agreed in advance at the time of the statutory pre-booking agreement. Therefore hackney, wheelchair accessible hackney and limousine fares are not regulated and a meter is not used. They are not allowed to display a roof sign or advertising. A limousine is a vehicle which is evidently suited by its style and condition for the provision of hire services for ceremonial occasions, or for corporate or other prestige purposes.
Vehicle age
Changing your vehicle on standard taxis and hackneys
If the vehicle associated with a standard taxi or hackney licence is being changed, the replacement vehicle must be less than nine years old on the date of application.
The age of the vehicle is calculated from the exact date on which it was first registered (day, month and year). If the vehicle was imported, the age is calculated from the date on which it was originally registered in its country of origin. You must check this date (on the Vehicle Licensing Certificate) before applying to have the licence transferred – the year shown on the vehicle’s number plate is not an accurate enough indicator of the vehicle’s exact age.
Transfer of licence ownership
When a licence is transferred, it must be associated with a vehicle that is less than three years old at the date of transfer. This condition applies to both Type A and Type B transfers (see below). (Note that the vehicle will also have to satisfy certain size requirements from the licence renewal date in 2012.)
Note that if the vehicle on a licence that has been transferred is subsequently changed, the replacement vehicle must be no older than the vehicle it replaces.
New wheelchair accessible licence requirements
The Commission has introduced a new set of standards for wheelchair accessible vehicles. Since 8th June 2010, all new applications for wheelchair accessible taxi or hackney licences must provide a technical Assessor’s Report for their vehicle. This is an information folder that amongst other things confirms the vehicle’s compliance to passenger car engineering standards by reference to test reports, approvals and certificate numbers and is not simply a statement of opinion. The key requirement is that formal test reports exist for the seat, seat belt and anchorage installations. You are strongly advised to research the requirements prior to purchase.
These engineering tests follow a similar format to those required for Type Approval which is the way most modern road vehicles are certified as meeting the required safety and environmental standards. Test reports such as those mentioned above for the in-vehicle seat strength would usually be conducted as part of a vehicle approval process. The test report requirement is less burdensome than the full Approval.
Existing wheelchair accessible licence holders will not have to meet these standards until 2012 on renewal.
What is the difference between a wheelchair accessible taxi and a wheelchair accessible hackney?
The significant difference between the two is the taxi specific items (i.e. meter, roof sign and printer)
What does my vehicle need to become wheelchair accessible?
It needs to meet the requirements given in SI 248 of 2010 and described in the Initial Suitability Inspection Manual . A technical Assessor’s Report is required. This report needs to be completed by a competent person. There are a number of associations that provide information on getting a report but a few possible contacts are listed below:
- Institute of Automotive Engineer Assessors - www.iaea-online.org
- Engineers Ireland - www.iei.ie. This is the body for professional engineers and is the place to find a Chartered Engineer
Why does the Commission now require such detailed documentation?
This is to move the burden of proof that the conversion is acceptable away from opinion to test led standards. In addition there are licensing standards set by the Commission (for example ramp angles for wheelchair accessible licensed vehicles). You should seek to buy a vehicle suitable for operation as a wheelchair accessible hackney or taxi in Ireland and not just an accessible vehicle designed for personal mobility.