City of Wolverhampton Council has issued a major update to all private hire and taxi drivers, confirming immediate rule changes to vehicle plates and tyre requirements, alongside a new cross-council enforcement agreement allowing other local authorities to inspect Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles operating in their areas.
3D and 4D number plates now banned
Effective immediately, all 3D and 4D number plates are strictly prohibited on Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles.
Any vehicle attending an inspection with 3D or 4D plates will be refused a licence, and compliance officers who stop a vehicle displaying them will issue a Section 68 suspension notice.
The council reminded drivers that if they no longer have their original plates, they must purchase replacements from a DVSA-approved plate producer.
Tyres over 10 years old now illegal for licensed vehicles
Wolverhampton Licensing has also reinforced strict tyre safety rules — no tyre, including the spare, can be more than ten years old.
Drivers are urged to check the DOT code stamped on each tyre sidewall. The final four digits of this code indicate the week and year of manufacture — for example, “2319” means the tyre was made in week 23 of 2019.
Any tyre with an obscured, altered or missing DOT code will be treated as defective, and vehicles with tyres older than ten years must have them replaced immediately to stay compliant.
Tighter protocols at loxdale offices
The council also reminded drivers of updated office procedures:
- Only the individual with a booked appointment will be admitted.
- Drivers arriving with passengers or dropping people on Chapel Street will be refused entry.
These measures are intended to maintain safety and efficiency at the Loxdale site.
Enforcement powers expanded across multiple councils
In a significant change, Wolverhampton Council has formally authorised eight other local authorities to carry out enforcement and vehicle inspections on its behalf.
Under Section 101(1)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, and Sections 68 and 73 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, enforcement teams from the following councils are now empowered to inspect and suspend Wolverhampton-licensed vehicles working in their areas:
- Telford & Wrekin Council
- Ashfield District Council
- Broxtowe Borough Council
- Mansfield District Council
- Newark & Sherwood District Council
- Nottingham City Council
- Rushcliffe Borough Council
- Liverpool City Council
If a vehicle fails an inspection or test, these enforcement teams can suspend the vehicle’s licence and issue a written notice requiring the owner to fix the issue before it can return to service.
The council warned that it is an offence to:
- obstruct an authorised officer,
- fail to comply with lawful requirements,
- withhold reasonable assistance or information, or
- knowingly make false statements to an officer.
Each enforcement team has now received an official authorisation letter confirming these powers.
Council statement
Wolverhampton Licensing said it appreciates drivers’ cooperation “in maintaining high standards across the trade and ensuring compliance with these new regulations.”
Drivers with queries are advised to contact: [email protected].
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