TfL grants four-month licence extensions as NSL centres are overwhelmed

Transport for London has granted a four-month extension to taxi and private hire vehicle licences that are due to expire in December, as the NSL-run inspection centres cannot cope with demand.

Any vehicle due for a licence renewal in December will remain licensed until April 2023, providing it has passed a regular MOT test. The driver or operator must then book the car for a full test at an NSL centre before it expires - as well as another MOT test prior to the NSL test.

The four-month period will begin on the day the current vehicle licence is due to expire. For example, if a vehicle licence is due to expire on December 20, 2022, it will remain licensed until April 20, 2023.

This applies to any taxi or PHV licence that expires during this period, regardless of whether an inspection has been booked or not. Any booking that has been made will be cancelled with immediate effect and the vehicle is not required to attend a vehicle inspection site.

The proposed change will not apply to taxis and PHVs that have already been inspected in December and licensed for a 12-month period. Vehicles that failed an inspection in December will not be exempt, and must be retested before they can be used.