Sefton private hire vehicle licence SUSPENDED after illegal tyres found during Liverpool taxi rank check
- Perry Richardson
- Mar 9
- 2 min read
A private hire vehicle licensed by Sefton Council has had its vehicle licence suspended after Liverpool City Council enforcement officers discovered two illegal tyres during an inspection in the city centre.
According to a post shared by Liverpool City Council’s licensing enforcement team, officers were alerted after the private hire vehicle (PHV) was seen parked on a designated taxi rank in Liverpool. PHVs are not permitted to wait on taxi ranks, which are reserved for licensed hackney carriage taxis.
Following the initial observation, licensing officers carried out an inspection of the vehicle. The check revealed two illegal tyres fitted to the car, including one tyre where the internal cords were exposed.
Under UK road safety regulations, tyres with exposed cords are considered dangerous and illegal for use on public roads. Vehicles found operating in that condition can face enforcement action, including licence suspension and potential prosecution.
Liverpool City Council licensing officers discovered dangerous tyres after a Sefton-licensed private hire vehicle was spotted parked on a taxi rank.
Liverpool City Council confirmed that the vehicle’s licence has now been suspended as a result of the findings. The driver is also expected to be summoned to court for offences relating to the condition of the vehicle.
The incident also highlights the ongoing scrutiny placed on vehicles operating across licensing authority boundaries. The car involved was licensed in Sefton but was operating within Liverpool, a situation commonly referred to in the trade as cross-border private hire working.
Local authority licensing enforcement teams regularly carry out compliance checks on taxis and private hire vehicles to ensure vehicles meet safety standards and licensing rules while operating within their areas.
The licensing team shared images of the worn tyre following the inspection, showing the exposed internal cords that prompted the suspension.
