Apply for a private hire vehicle licence

Eligibility criteria

To apply for a vehicle licence, you need a private hire driver licence and the vehicle you want to use as a private hire must:

• be less than 5 years old
• a maximum of 10 years old

Please note, private hire vehicles need an annual MOT from 3 years old.

When a private hire vehicle is 7 years old it needs a MOT every 6 months from its date of registration.

Before you start

Private hire cars must be pre-booked. Both the private hire vehicle and the driver must have separate licences. 

Find out how to apply for a private hire driver licence.

If you're interested in applying for a private hire licence, contact our Customer Services team to check availability on 0141 577 3005 or email customerservices@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.

How to apply

An individual or a company or partnership may apply to licence a vehicle.

For company or partnership applications, ID must be submitted for all partners, directors and managers.

To apply, fill out the relevant application form:

• Download the individual private hire licence application form [329.38KB]
• Download a company/partnership private hire licence application form [373.06KB]

Once you've completed your application, we recommend you come along to a drop-in at our Barrhead offices at 211 Main Street, Barrhead with your application and documents. We can check everything is correct and let you know if we need any more information to process your application. 

Drop-ins run on the first and third Thursday of each month between 8:45am ro 4:30pm.

Please email complete applications to celicensing@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.

What happens next?

We aim to process your application as soon as possible.

Legislation allows for consideration of the application within 3 months and a decision within 6 months.

If you haven't heard from us within this time, phone our Customer Services team on 0141 577 3005 or email customerservices@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk.