New vehicle licence applicants must wait until the plates are received and affixed to the vehicle before commencing any work.
Renewals should be completed before the existing plates expire.
For vehicle licensing requirements, you can use this link to download the licensing handbook.
New & Renewal Applications Process
A Mechanical Fitness Test certificate is only valid for 28 days, so your application must then be submitted within 28 days of the test date. A list of Council approved testing stations may be found in the Licensing Handbook
You will then need to submit your application using our online portal. Register your details within the portal (if applying for the first time). Complete the online application form ensuring all relevant documents/evidence are uploaded:
- Mechanical Fitness Certificate (less than 28 days old)
- V5 Registration Document (or bill of sale/new keeper slip for a new vehicle)
- Insurance Certificate (must be valid for the first day of the licence)
- Meter seal certificate (if the vehicle is a Hackney Carriage with a meter fitted)
All applications will receive a confirmation email when the licence application has been received. A little later, once your plate is ready to be processed, you will be sent a payment link to the email address you provided in your application.
You will need to make payment for the plate by debit card online via your portal account before it is produced. (see fees)
Once we’ve processed your payment, we’ll send a further email to confirm when your licence and plates are ready. They will then be posted to you or made available for collection from Bootle One Stop Shop, depending on the preference stated in your application.