If you drive a taxi or private hire vehicle in East Hampshire, a standard MOT is not necessarily the only test you need. East Hampshire District Council also requires licensed vehicles to have regular mechanical tests at one of its nominated testing centres, with the timing depending on the vehicle’s age and whether it is a taxi or private hire vehicle.
Windmill Garage in Horndean is currently listed by East Hampshire District Council as one of those nominated testing centres. If the vehicle earns your living, keeping the dates straight matters.
Standard MOT vs council compliance test
A standard MOT checks whether a vehicle meets the required road safety and environmental standards at the time of the test. It covers areas including brakes, tyres, lights, steering, suspension, vehicle structure and emissions.
For an ordinary private car, the first MOT is generally due when the vehicle reaches three years old, followed by another MOT every year.
Taxi and private hire licensing adds another layer.
Outside London, taxi and private hire vehicle licences are issued by local councils. The council can set additional requirements for vehicles it licenses, so there is no single council compliance regime that applies identically everywhere in England.
The Department for Transport explains that council compliance testing may include MOT requirements as well as additional checks connected with local taxi licensing. That can include matters such as the vehicle’s condition, cleanliness, identification and equipment.
For an East Hampshire licensed vehicle, the important point is simple: do not assume that having a valid MOT means you have completed every vehicle test required by the council.
East Hampshire taxi and private hire testing rules
East Hampshire District Council requires licensed taxis and private hire vehicles to undergo mechanical testing at a testing centre nominated by the council.
For a vehicle licence application, the council says applicants need a mechanical test pass certificate from a nominated centre, unless the vehicle is new with limited delivery mileage only. Where applicable, an MOT certificate is also required.
The council currently lists Windmill Garage, 249 London Road, Horndean, as one of its nominated testing centres.
What does the East Hampshire mechanical test cover?
The mechanical test is part of the council’s licensing requirements for vehicles carrying members of the public.
East Hampshire’s vehicle conditions also set requirements that go beyond the ordinary MOT. Depending on the type of licence, these include matters such as the condition and cleanliness of the vehicle, required identification, a suitable fire extinguisher, first aid equipment and no-smoking signage.
Hackney carriage requirements can also cover taxi-specific equipment such as the taximeter.
That is why it is worth treating the MOT and the council test as two separate requirements in your diary. There is overlap, but they serve different purposes.
How often does an East Hampshire taxi need testing?
This is the bit worth saving.
East Hampshire District Council currently sets the mechanical test frequency according to the vehicle’s age, type and MOT timing.
Taxis under six years old
A taxi under six years old must have an MOT every year.
It must also have a council mechanical test six months either side of the MOT, according to East Hampshire District Council’s current guidance.
Taxis over six years old
A taxi over six years old still needs an annual MOT.
The council mechanical test is required four months either side of the MOT.
Private hire vehicles under six years old
For private hire vehicles, the rules are slightly different.
Before the vehicle becomes old enough to require a normal MOT at three years, East Hampshire District Council requires a mechanical test every six months.
Once an MOT is required, a private hire vehicle under six years old needs the mechanical test six months either side of the MOT.
Private hire vehicles over six years old
Private hire vehicles over six years old require an MOT every year.
The council mechanical test is required four months either side of the MOT.
These are East Hampshire’s current published requirements. If your vehicle is licensed by another council, check that authority’s rules rather than assuming they are the same. Taxi licensing is very local in that respect.
Why taxis have additional checks
A taxi can cover a lot of miles between one January and the next. More importantly, it is carrying paying passengers as a licensed vehicle.
The Department for Transport’s taxi and private hire licensing guidance recognises this distinction. Local authorities can require testing beyond the ordinary MOT arrangements, including inspections intended to make sure licensed vehicles continue to meet local requirements.
East Hampshire does exactly that through its nominated testing-centre system.
It is not simply an MOT with a different name. The safest way to plan your year is to keep your MOT date, council mechanical test date and vehicle licence requirements together so none slips through the cracks.
Missing a test date is rather less convenient when the car is also your workplace.
What should taxi drivers bring to the test?
For an East Hampshire vehicle licence application, the council lists documents including the mechanical test pass certificate, proof of ownership or registration document, appropriate insurance and an MOT certificate where applicable.
The exact documents you need to physically bring to the garage for your particular mechanical test are less clearly stated in the council’s current online guidance.
It is also sensible to present the vehicle in its normal licensed condition, with the equipment and identification required by your licence in place.
For East Hampshire private hire vehicles, current council conditions include requirements covering the licence identification, fire extinguisher, first aid kit and no-smoking sign. Check that required equipment is present, serviceable and in date before the test.
A few checks before you bring the vehicle in
You do not need to be a mechanic to catch some of the simple things beforehand.
Check all the lights, including brake lights and indicators. Look over the tyres for obvious damage and make sure the tread is legal. Try the washers and wipers, check the horn and make sure every seat belt operates properly.
Then look at the vehicle as a passenger would. The council’s licensing requirements extend beyond basic MOT roadworthiness, so the interior, exterior and required taxi or private hire equipment deserve attention too.
If you already know something is wrong, getting it looked at before the test can save disruption later. For a working driver, time off the road has a habit of being more expensive than the fault itself.
East Hampshire taxi testing at Windmill Garage
Windmill Garage is listed by East Hampshire District Council as a nominated testing centre for its licensed vehicles.
We are a family-run garage at 249 London Road in Horndean and have been looking after local vehicles for over thirty-five years. For taxi and private hire drivers, we understand that the car is not simply transport. It is how you get through the working day.
You can see our current published prices at https://www.windmillgarage.co.uk/prices/ or speak to us before booking if you are not sure which test your vehicle needs.
We are open Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5pm. Online booking is available 24/7.
Frequently asked questions
Is a taxi MOT different from a normal car MOT?
The statutory MOT checks the same roadworthiness and environmental standards that apply to the relevant vehicle class. What makes taxi licensing different is that the local authority can require additional vehicle testing and licensing standards on top.
In East Hampshire, licensed taxis and private hire vehicles are subject to regular council mechanical tests at nominated testing centres.
Does a valid MOT mean my East Hampshire taxi is ready for licensing?
Not by itself. East Hampshire District Council requires a mechanical test pass certificate from a nominated testing centre as part of its vehicle licensing requirements, as well as an MOT certificate where applicable.
Do East Hampshire taxis need testing every six months?
Not quite. The schedule depends on the vehicle type and age.
For taxis under six years old, the council states that an annual MOT is required with a mechanical test six months either side. For taxis over six years old, the mechanical test interval changes to four months either side of the annual MOT.
Private hire vehicles have their own schedule, including six-monthly mechanical tests before the normal MOT requirement begins at three years old.
Can Windmill Garage carry out East Hampshire taxi mechanical tests?
Yes. East Hampshire District Council currently lists Windmill Garage in Horndean as one of its nominated testing centres for licensed vehicle mechanical tests.
What if my taxi is licensed by another council?
Check with the council that issued the vehicle licence. Local authorities set their own licensing and inspection arrangements, so East Hampshire’s testing schedule should not be assumed to apply to a vehicle licensed elsewhere.
Book your MOT or service in under a minute
If your taxi or private hire vehicle is due its MOT, council mechanical test or some workshop attention before the next test, give us a call and we can help you keep the working week moving.
Book online any time at https://www.windmillgarage.co.uk/book-in-your-car/ or call us on 02392 571003 (Mon–Fri, 8.30am–5pm).