Vehicle requirements
Vehilce policy amendments effective from 1st November 2023.
The licensing of any vehicle is subject to its suitability for use as either a private hire or hackney carriage vehicle, in addition to passing the certificate of compliance vehicle test at one of Slough Borough Councils approved testing sites.
- All private hire and hackney carriage vehicles being licensed for the first time, must be less than 5 years old, meet the Euro 6 standard on the date the vehicle licence application is submitted - see explanatory note 1
- Currently licensed petrol, diesels and mild hybrids vehicles can remain licensed until the vehicle reaches 9 years of age.
- Plug in Hybrid and electric vehicles can remain licensed until the vehicle reaches 12 years of age.
- Requests to renew a vehicle licence for a petrol, diesel, or mild hybrid beyond 9 years of age will be automatically refused - see explanatory note 2.
- The vehicle must be Euro 6 compliant. If the vehicle meets the Euro 6 standard, the emmissions of the vehicle are compliant with the policy.
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV’s) & specialist vehicles
WAV’s and specialist vehicles must be:
- less than 5 years old at the first time of licensing
- Euro 6 compliant
- WAV’s and specialist vehicles can remain licensed until 17 years of age - This applies to both private hire and hackney carriage licensed vehicles.
Diesel vehicles – 2026 onwards
From 1st January 2026, Slough Borough Council will cease to licence diesel vehicles. This applies to vehicle grant (new) applications only.
Diesel vehicles will remain Licenced until they reach 9 years of age, subject to valid renewal applications being made before the expiry date of the licence (plate).
WAV’s and specialist vehicles will be exempt, and the licensing of diesels continue to be permitted.
Hybrid & electric vehicles – 2027 onwards
From 1st January 2027, Slough Borough Council will cease to grant new vehicle licences to petrol and mild hybrid vehicles. All vehicles (except for WAV’s & specialist vehicles) must be:
- less than 5 years old at the first time of licensing
- either a hybrid (HEVSs, PHEVs REEVs) or electric vehicle
- capable of travelling a minimum of 30 miles with zero emissions.
Valid renewal applications for petrol, diesel and mild hybrid vehicles will be accepted until the same licenced vehicle reaches 9 years of age.
Plug in Hybrid and electric vehicles can remain licensed until the vehicle reaches 12 years of age.
Please note the vehicle registration document (V5) will be required in order to confirm the vehicle meets the above requirements.
Any vehicle can be considered for licensing, subject to our current policies. Licensing officers will:
- have a discretion to refuse applications if they feel the vehicle is unsuitable and/or unsafe
- determine how many passengers the vehicle can safely and comfortably carry
- Under this policy, any vehicle must meet the Euro 6 standard.
Please note, vehicles cannot be licenced by this authority if they are licenced by another authority e.g. Transport for London.
Licensing limousines
Please contact the licensing team for advice on licensing limousines or novelty type vehicles.
Policy & Conditions
Additional information
Explanatory Note 1: The date of registration detailed in the vehicle registration document (V5) will be used to determine the age of the vehicle. For imported vehicles, the year of manufacture (1st January) will be used to determine the age.
Explanatory note 2: Mild hybrids have been excluded as they have no zero-emission capability.
Explanatory note 3: Valid vehicle licence renewal applications for petrol and diesel vehicles, must be made before the expiry date of the licence. For an application to be valid, the completed application form, payment and necessary documentation are required. Incomplete or incorrect applications will be rejected.
Explanatory note 4: From 2026, diesel vehicles - renewal applications submitted after the expiry date of the vehicle licence will be rejected and the vehicle will not be relicensed.
Explanatory note 5: From 2027, petrol and mild hybrid vehicles - renewal applications submitted after the expiry date of the vehicle licence will be rejected and the vehicle will not be relicensed.
Explanatory note 6: HEV – Hybrid electric vehicles
PHEVs – Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles
REEVs – Range-extended electric vehicles