167Issue of hire car licences

167 Issue of hire car licences (1) The road transport authority may refuse to issue (including renew) a hire car licence to an applicant if the authority believes on reasonable grounds that the applicant— (a) has contravened a condition of another hire car licence held by the person or, for a licence renewal, a condition of the licence being renewed; or (b) has not complied with a requirement of the Act relating to the

(2) The road transport authority may also refuse to issue (including renew) a hire car licence to an applicant if a hire car licence, or an accreditation to operate any kind of hire car service, held by the person is suspended under chapter 8 (Disciplinary action). (3) The road transport authority must refuse to issue a hire car licence of the kind applied for by the applicant if— (a) the applicant is not accredited to operate a hire car service of that kind; or (b) the applicant is disqualified under chapter 8 (Disciplinary action) from holding or applying for a hire car licence of that kind; or (c) for an application for a leased hire car licence—the vehicle to which the application relates must be refused registration under the Road Transport (Vehicle Registration) Regulation 2000, section 32C (Deciding applications for registration—certain hire cars). (4) The road transport authority must issue a hire car licence to the applicant if— (a) the applicant makes an application to the authority under section 166; and (b) the authority does not refuse the application under this section. (5) A leased hire car licence must be issued for a minimum period of 1 year and a maximum period of 6 years. (6) A restricted hire car licence must be issued for a minimum period of 3 months and a maximum period of 1 year. (7) The road transport authority must not renew a restricted hire car