Vehicle proprietors licence

Vehicle test fees

To confirm your booking, you may need to make a deposit or pay a fee. 

You may also be charged if you arrive late or miss your appointment

Any retest fees are at the discretion of the testing station.

Before your test

Before you attend your test, you must ensure that:

• your vehicle’s seating upholstery is in a good, clean condition and is free of any tears or cuts
• each of the four tyres should have a tread depth of more than 2mm

What happens at the vehicle test

All vehicles need a test, regardless of age. 

As well as an MOT, the test centre will complete a detailed mechanical inspection. This is called the supplementary test.

The test centre will check:

• the condition of the bodywork
• that all fittings are secure
• the inside of your vehicle is in good order

The test papers are only valid for 10 working days.

Up to date HPI check

There are several organisations online that can provide an History and Performance Investigation (HPI) report for the vehicle.

The report will provide information on the vehicle’s history, including:

• any recorded damage
• outstanding finance
• if the vehicle has been reported as stolen

We will not licence any vehicle that has been declared a write-off, regardless of the category.

Please ensure to use a competent and reputable organisation for the report, as we’ll need to check your vehicle’s damage and insurance history. 

We will only accept the report if it’s dated within one month of your renewal date.

Proof of insurance

You must provide a current insurance certificate or cover-note for the vehicle with the appropriate use, i.e. private hire or public hire (for hackney carriages). 

The document must be in its original format. This should be a:

• letter, if your documents were provided by post
• PDF, if your documents were provided by email

We will not accept a photocopy or photograph of the certificate or cover-note.

Your proof must clearly show the:

• vehicle registration number
• names of those insured to drive the vehicle

Private hire or public hire insurance

Private hire or public hire insurance only covers drivers that hold the appropriate licence to drive the vehicle. 

V5C (Logbook)

You must provide the original V5C. 

If you recently bought your vehicle

If you recently bought your vehicle and do not have the V5C, you must provide:

• the new keeper slip or email confirmation from the DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency)
• proof of the purchase, such as a receipt

You will then have 28 days to provide the V5C.

If you're leasing the vehicle

If you're leasing the vehicle, the V5C will be in the leasing company’s name. 

The law recognises the leaser as a ‘part-proprietor’ and the vehicle will be licensed in the leaser’s name.

Vehicles that have had their seating capacity changed

If seats have been added or removed from your vehicle, it will need an Individual Vehicle Approval (IVA) test before it can be used for private hire or as a hackney carriage.

You must provide the:

• test certificate
• updated V5C that lists the adaptation

Basic DBS certificate

You must provide a basic Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate, dated within one month. 

This is not required if you are:

• a Solihull licensed driver
• subscribed to the DBS update service

Partnerships and limited companies

If your application is in the name of a partnership or a limited company, you must provide a DBS certificate for each partner or director. 

We will check this information on Companies House.

LPG Conversion certificate (if applicable)

If the vehicle has been converted to Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) you must provide a conversion certificate.

The certificate issued must be from an LPG Industry approved garage.

LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998) Certificate (if applicable)

If the vehicle is fitted with a tail lift or lifting equipment, you must produce a Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) certificate issued at the time of the test. 

Lifting equipment includes any equipment used at work for lifting or lowering loads, including attachments used for anchoring, fixing or supporting it. 

M1 Type Approval Certificate (if applicable)

If the vehicle has been converted from a van that has a type of approval other than M1, you must provide an approved M1 certificate.

Meter Calibration Certificate (Hackney carriages only)

You must provide evidence, from a suitable meter calibration company, that your meter:

• has been tested
• is calibrated to calculate fares in line with the approved tariff within Solihull

This must be dated within the last 12 months.

Other documents required

You must provide a:

• completed application form

How to book an appointment

Once your documents are ready and you’ve completed all the pre-application steps, please email us at licensing@solihull.gov.uk to book an appointment. 

Please provide:

• your full name
• your date of birth
• your mobile number
• the reason for your appointment 

We will not accept walk-ins so you must make an appointment.