Taxi vehicles must meet our requirements for age and emissions, and have CCTV installed. They must also display the relevant plates, crests, signs and charts.

Vehicles must be an estate, hatchback, saloon or sport utility vehicle (SUV). Other vehicle types can be licensed if they are wheelchair accessible.

Hackney carriage vehicles must be silver in colour. Private-hire vehicles must be any colour other than silver, as detailed on the vehicle’s V5 document.

Our hackney carriage vehicle checklist [PDF, 94Kb] and private-hire vehicle checklist [PDF, 72Kb] list the full requirements.

You must have your vehicle tested every six months at our garage in Waterbeach. This is explained in the licence application process – see taxi vehicle licences.

Age

Zero-emission vehicles must be less than 15 years old.

Ultra-low emission plug-in hybrid vehicles must be less than 12 years old. They must have CO2 emissions less than 75g/km.

Petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles must be less than 11 years old. You cannot apply for a new licence for these vehicles, only renew an existing licence.

Wheelchair-accessible vehicles must be less than 11 years old.

Emissions

All new licensed vehicles must be ultra-low or zero emission.

• Ultra-low emission vehicles are plug-in hybrids or extended-range electric vehicles with CO₂ emissions less than 75g/km.
• Zero-emission vehicles are electric-only or fuel-cell vehicles.

All new licensed wheelchair-accessible vehicles must meet the Euro 5 standard or higher.

CCTV

All taxi vehicles must have CCTV installed that meets or exceeds our specification.

• CCTV technical specification and system requirements [PDF, 0.2MB]
• CCTV operational procedure [PDF, 56Kb]
• CCTV privacy notice [PDF, 0.1MB]

CCTV unit prices range from £300 to £500. Installation costs range from £80 to £180. Costs depend on the number of cameras, which is dependent on vehicle size and configuration. Some suppliers provide finance or rental options.

If you’re licensing a Tesla vehicle, the vehicle’s fuses mean you might need a premium installation service. This will cost extra.

Safe Systems CCTV and AC Security Systems can provide and install CCTV systems that meet our specification.

Vehicle plates, door crests and fare charts

Hackney carriages vehicles must display:

• a taxi vehicle plate on the back
• Cambridge City crests on the front doors
• a fare card with information about how to make a complaint

We will give you the plate with your licence. You can buy crests and fare charts at the garage.

Private-hire vehicles must display:

• a taxi vehicle plate on the front and back
• company signs on the front doors
• a sign with information about how to make a complaint
• a fare chart, if the vehicle has a meter fitted

We will give you the plates with your licence. The company you work for will provide the door signs, complaint and fare charts.