Applying for an SPSV licence
It is no longer possible to apply for a standard taxi and hackney licence. The Commission currently only issues limousine and wheelchair accessible licences.
NOTE: new vehicle standards apply to new wheelchair vehicle licences. Vehicles require proof of compliance with passenger car Type Approval and also for the strength of the wheelchair anchorages for example. You are strongly advised to research this carefully prior to vehicle purchase. The Initial Suitability Manual can be downloaded here. You are advised to read it.
How to apply for a limousine or wheelchair accessible licence:
- Download and complete a VL1 application form
- Submit the VL1 application form along with the relevant fee to: SPSV Licensing Section, SGS Ireland Limited, Cityeast, Ballybrit Business Park, Galway
- On successful application, a conditional offer letter will be sent with a provisional vehicle licence number within 5 working days. Included with this letter there is a VL12 conditional offer completion form that you must complete and return on the day of your licensing appointment (see below for further information on required documentation)
- Successfully pass the Initial Suitability Inspection on your vehicle
What documentation will I need?
Evidence you are tax compliant
The Commission will check this online with Revenue at the time of application. The name on the tax clearance certificate must match the name on the licence exactly. If the name is not the same, you should contact the Revenue Commissioners. A tax clearance certificate can be obtained from your local Revenue office or by visiting www.revenue.ie, or by contacting your accountant.
Please note that you should check if your tax clearance can be verified online in advance of sending in the VL3 form. If it cannot be verified online you should contact Revenue to add it to their online system or send a copy of the TC2. You can check whether your tax clearance can be check online by going to www.revenue.ie/itp/details.do
A valid insurance certificate for the vehicle attached to the licence
It must specify clearly that the vehicle being licensed is covered to operate as a small public service vehicle/street service vehicle. The Commission will verify insurance policy’s validity directly with the relevant insurance company.
An NCT roadworthiness certificate for the vehicle attached to the licence
The certificate must be issued less than 90 days before the date the licence is issued. Any vehicle less than 3 months old AND with less than 3,000 kilometres at the time of licensing are exempt from the NCT requirement.
A Technical Assessor’s Report (Applicable only to wheelchair accessible vehicles)
This is an information folder that amongst other things confirms the vehicle’s compliance to passenger car type approval standards by reference to test reports, approvals and certificate numbers and is not simply a statement of opinion. Again issued less than 90 days before the date the licence is issued. This is NOT the same as an "Engineer's Report". For further information call 1890 347 347
Changing your vehicle
Since 8th June, all change-of-vehicle bookings for taxi and hackney licences must involve a vehicle under 9 years of age. You can work out the vehicle age from the date of registration printed on your Vehicle Registration Certificate.
Note: these new licensing conditions do NOT apply to wheelchair accessible or limousine licences
Change-of-vehicle bookings must be made in advance by calling the Commission’s booking line on 1890 927 977. Appointments may be re-scheduled without charge provided you give 48 hours notice.
If you decide to change the car you operate as a small public service vehicle (SPSV) you must carry out a change-of-vehicle transaction with SGS Ireland Limited who administer licensing on behalf of the Commission for Taxi Regulation. The vehicle must meet the requirements for operation as an SPSV for that licence category (i.e. taxi, limousine). The replacement vehicle is subject to the same roadworthiness and Initial Suitability Tests as the original vehicle. If the vehicle passes these tests, the licence details are updated and SGS applies tamper-proof licence discs to the front and rear windows of the replacement vehicle.
In order to change your vehicle you will need to have the following documents:
- A completed VL6 Form
- Tax clearance certificate
- NCT roadworthiness certificate
- Insurance to operate for reward
The licence for the replacement vehicle will now be a full 12-month licence, regardless of the expiry date of the licence beforehand.
Example: Liam’s vehicle licence is due for renewal on December 1st 2010. He has bought a new vehicle so gets his documents in order, completes his change-of-vehicle application and books a Initial Suitability Inspection for November 1st 2010. The vehicle passes and he is issued with a licence valid for 12 months from the date he changed his vehicle on the licence. His licence is now not due for renewal until November 1st 2011.Renewing your licence
Transferring ownership of an SPSV licence
An application to have a licence transferred involves two people:
- The person from whom the licence is being transferred (the current licence holder), who may be selling their consent to have the licence transferred; and
- The person to whom the licence is being transferred (the applicant), who may be buying the other person’s consent.
Both of these people must complete parts of Form VL3 – Transfer of Licence Ownership. The transfer is effective only when it has been completed by the Taxi Regulator – the vehicle may not be operated by the new licensee until that person has received a licence in their name from the Taxi Regulator. Note that when a licence is transferred, it will be marked ‘Non-Transferable’ – it cannot subsequently be transferred to another person.
Important: Only certain SPSV licences can be transferred, and the prospective new licence holder must satisfy certain conditions before the licence can be transferred into their name.
Your vehicle must be less than 3 years old
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 for Type A (licence only) and Type B (licence and vehicle as package) transfers. (Note that the vehicle will also have to satisfy certain size requirements from the licence renewal date in 2012.) 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.
For more information please see Information Guide G3: Applying to have a taxi licence transferred
Returning your tamper-proof licence discs
As part of the new vehicle licensing system a number of enhanced security measures are being introduced. Please note that if you are changing your vehicle or transferring the ownership of your licence you are required to return the old tamper-proof discs. If you are unable to return your old tamper-proof discs you must complete the declaration form downloadable below and provide some evidence that the discs have been destroyed. Further information on the supporting documentation you require is available here.
If you are unable to provide any evidence of the destruction of your tamper-proof discs you should contact the vehicle licensing team on 1890 347 347. Such requests can take up to five working days to process. A vehicle licensing inspector is unable to proceed with any booking without either a set of discs or the completed and approved declaration form.
FORM: Declaration of failure to return tamper-proof discs
Renewing your vehicle licence
Licence renewal bookings must be made in advance by calling the Commission’s booking line on 1890 927 977. Appointments may be re-scheduled without charge provided you give 48 hours notice.
When renewing your vehicle licence you will need to have the following documents:
- A completed VL2 form (this must be completed by the licence holder not the vehicle presenter)
- Tax clearance certificate
- NCT roadworthiness certificate
- Insurance to operate for reward
You will also need to pass the Licence Renewal Assessment (LRA). This is to make sure that the vehicle continues to meet the standards set out in the Initial Suitability Inspection. There is no increase to the renewal fee but if you fail this assessment and require a re-test, you must pay a re-test fee of €30 for every subsequent assessment.
To prepare for the LRA you should:
- Check your safety equipment. The Commission has produced a flyer which helps you identify the correct safety equipment. This can be downloaded here.
- Be sure to buy your equipment from a reliable source. Most large supermarkets or DIY chains, pharmacies and car dealerships stock these items.
- Make sure you vehicle is clean and tidy and meets the criteria set out in the Licence Renewal Manual You should read this before the inspection.
Surrendering your vehicle licence
A surrender of an SPSV licence should only be carried out if you no longer intend to operate that licence, and do not have the option of transferring the ownership of the licence (i.e. if you have a limousine or hackney licence). A surrender of licence is an irreversible de-activation of the licence, so you must be sure before carrying this out. A surrendered licence can never be restored, renewed or used again.
If you only wish to remove the vehicle currently associated with your SPSV licence or to suspend use of the licence temporarily you should not complete this form. Instead you should call 1890 347 347.
You should only surrender your licence if…
It is non-transferable (i.e. hackney or limousine), you are certain you do not wish to operate this licence in the future, and you are fully aware that this is an irreversible, permanent cancellation of your licence
You should NOT surrender your licence if…
- You wish to temporarily cease operating
- You have a taxi or wheelchair accessible taxi licence
- You currently don’t have a vehicle but plan to operate the licence in the future
To surrender your licence, please do the following:
- Complete a VL5 (SPSV licence surrender) form. If you cannot download this form it can be requested by phoning the 1890 347 347.
- Send the completed form along with the original vehicle licence and tamper-proof licence discs to the Commission for Taxi Regulation at the following address
SPSV Licensing Section
PO Box 773
Togher
Cork
You will normally receive a response within 5 working days of receipt of this form. The Commission reserves the right to request additional information or documentation in support of this application.
For further information please see Information Guide G5
Changing your name
The Commission facilitates licence holders to change a name on their licence in the following circumstances:
- If there is a mismatch between the names on the tax clearance certificate and the vehicle licence
- To reflect a change in name as a result of getting married, etc
To change your details on your SPSV licence certificate you must provide a copy of your passport or birth certificate as well as a completed Change-of-Name form which is available to download below. Any significant change in name, such as a change of married name, may require further supporting documents.
If your name is correct on the SPSV vehicle licence and you wish to amend the name on your tax clearance certificate you need to contact your local Revenue office. A request to change the name on your tax clearance cert must be made in writing (email is acceptable). You are advised to allow five working days for either the Commission or Revenue to process your request.
Please note that this process cannot be used to transfer the ownership of the licence from one person to another. Please see the transfer of licence ownership process for further information.
Click here to download a Change-of-Name application form
For further information please contact 1890 347 347