The City of Wolverhampton Council has issued a stark warning to private hire drivers: display your rear plate correctly, or face serious consequences. An official statement from the council confirms that placing your licence plate inside the rear window or on the parcel shelf is illegal and constitutes a breach of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976.
According to Section 48(6) of the Act, all licensed private hire vehicles must clearly display their rear plate on the outside of the vehicle in a prescribed manner. Wolverhampton Council has reported a rise in complaints and enforcement actions against vehicles failing to meet this basic requirement.
Here’s what the law – and the council – says:
- The licence plate must be securely and permanently fixed to the rear exterior of the vehicle.
- It must be located immediately next to the number plate area, without obscuring the vehicle’s registration plate.
- It must be in a conspicuous and easily removable position – accessible to both police and council officers.
- The plate must not be hidden or partially covered at any time.
- Removing the plate, unless legally exempted, is not permitted during the life of the licence.
Wolverhampton Licensing Services made it clear:
“For clarity, displaying the licence plate on the parcel shelf or in the rear windscreen is a breach of licence condition and will result in the vehicle being suspended.”
The council also warned that repeated offences could lead to the immediate revocation of the driver’s licence.
This firm stance comes as part of a wider push across the UK to improve compliance, passenger confidence, and public safety standards in the private hire trade.
Drivers licensed by Wolverhampton – many of whom work across the country due to the city’s national licensing appeal – are urged to check that their plates are mounted correctly to avoid suspension or further enforcement.
Thanks for visiting DM News! If you’ve got a question, story, or anything you’d like to say, head over to DriverMatty.com — I’d love to hear from you! And while you’re there, don’t forget to check out my other websites and social media channels.
