To ensure your Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) remains compliant and roadworthy, please carefully follow the procedures outlined below when booking and attending PHV inspections. These guidelines are in place to streamline your experience and help avoid unnecessary costs or delays. 

Your PHV inspection must be completed once per year, as close to the date of your previous inspection as possible. 

Most Otto Car customers are eligible for inspections onsite with us, at our Sussex Place Hub. This allows you to get onsite support from our team. 

Please read through the below to understand the requirements before you attend your inspection. 

Please note, your inspection is carried out by NSL, on behalf of TFL. Otto Car facilitates this inspection by providing the use of our facilities. 

MOT Certificate Validity

Once your appointment is booked, you must ensure you have an  MOT certificate that is no more than 14 days old, including the day it was issued. Any certificate older than this will not be accepted for PHV licensing purposes. To book an MOT, click here. 

Booking Your PHV Appointment With Us

Appointments can be made remotely using the dedicated booking link here. If you are a R2B customer, you may choose to book your appointment directly through NSL, if this is the case, please follow the process in “Booking Direct with NSL”. Please note the following:

  • Cancellation Notice: You must cancel at least 5 days in advance. Cancellations made after this period will incur a £84 charge.

  • One Appointment Only: Multiple bookings may result in additional No Show charges. Ensure only one valid booking exists at any given time.

Sussex Place

  • Operating Hours: 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM

  • Arrival: Arrive on time or up to 10 minutes early.

  • Process: Use the drive-through system and join the queue on arrival

Booking Direct with NSL 

NSL Onsite

  • Booking: Call 0343 222 5555 to schedule your slot.

  • Arrival: Arrive at least 20 minutes early to avoid being marked as a no-show.

  • No-Show Policy: Missed appointments are automatically recorded as no-shows and subsequently charged. 

Please note, this is only available for Rent to Buy customers, or Aftercare. 

If you have booked directly with NSL, please ensure you follow the below. 

  • Collection Timing: Documents (Private Hire Vehicle License) must be collected at least 48 hours before your scheduled PHV appointment.

  • Returns and Refunds: Once your appointment is complete, return the documents to our Sussex Place Hub any time up to 7 days after the booking to be eligible for a refund (where applicable).

    • Exclusions: Refunds are not available for drivers with Aftercare Insurance or Friendly Finance agreements. Please refer to your contract for specific details.

    • Important: Returned documents must be received in order for the refund to be processed.

Onsite Booking for Rental Drivers

If you are a rental driver, you must book your PHV appointment onsite with us directly. Please follow this link, or contact our team to arrange your booking. 

For any additional support or queries, please contact our team at 02087407444.