Taxi and private hire licence applications
Applying for a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire driver's licence
There are a number of conditions attached to a driver, vehicle or operator licence and they can be found in our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
If you would like to become a licensed driver there are several checks and a college course which you will have to pass, with separate fees payable for each of the checks:
- A basic reading, writing and arithmetic test
- An enhanced level Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check
- A DVLA check
- A medical check (unless you hold a PCV or HGV licence)
- A driving skills test and theory test
- A local geographical knowledge test (for hackney carriage drivers only)
- A two day college course ‘The Role of a Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver
We will help applicants/existing drivers with filling in the DBS form when they come to our offices for their appointment.
Important: We are under a duty to protect the public funds we administer, and to this end may use the information you have provided on your application form for the prevention and detection of fraud. We may also share this information with other bodies responsible for auditing or administering public funds for these purposes. Find out more about how we share information as part of the National Fraud Initiative.
Applying for a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle licence
If you would like to licence a vehicle as either a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle, the vehicle must meet the requirements of the standard MOT test as well as additional measures laid down by the council and set out in our Manual of Inspection Standards.
Hackney carriage and private hire vehicle licence application form and guidance
Applying for a private hire operator's licence
A private hire vehicle can only be dispatched to a customer by a private hire operator. This is a person who holds an operator’s licence under Section 55 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Part II.
Private hire operators licence application form and guidance