Hi Mike,

As we are the designated test station for testing hackney & private hire vehicles for our local licensing authority it always use to be the case that we had to have both hackney and private hire licenses.

However, last year they decided this wasn't really needed, though we do not have anything in writing. But yes, we do have trade plates which we can use, but don't always.

However, when we're driving them on the road we are in the middle of testing them, so its a requirement for us.

I know the licensing authority are very keen that Hackney Vehicles are only used for taxi-ing, i.e. they can't be used as private transport, but private hire is ok. Therefore, I'm sure it would be ok for you to drive them.....don't forget a Taxi MOT is much stricter one than a regular MOT anyway (well it is in the Macclesfield borough).

I guess this doesn't really help.....best contact your local licensing officer and have a word with them, they will tell you exactly what they would want.

Regards

Sean