Application for a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire driver’s licence

Read these notes carefully and seek independent advice before making your application.

Before submitting your application you must complete the following:

• Driving assessment with the Blue Lamp Trust

• Group 2 Medical with your own doctor

1.  At the date of application you must lawfully hold a full UK / EU driver’s licence authorising you to drive a motor car and you must have held such a licence for a minimum of one year.

2.  Applicants are not allowed by law to drive a licensed vehicle until they hold a valid hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence. Your application should be made at least four weeks in advance of your anticipated start or renewal date. If you are renewing an existing licence and your application is brought in less than four weeks before the expiry date and a temporary licence has to be issued, then there will be a charge of £18.50 for this.

3.  A Photo I.D. badge will be issued along with your licence certificate upon satisfactory completion of the application process. The Photo I.D. badge must be worn or displayed at all times whilst driving a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.

4.  The hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence (paper copy) is personal to the driver, but must be held by the proprietor/operator during the course of employment.

5.  A licensed hackney carriage driver will be issued a dual badge to drive both taxis and private hire vehicles. If you hold a private hire driver’s licence then you can only drive a private hire vehicle.

6.  All licences are valid for 3 years, or lesser period as the Borough Council shall decide.

7.  You are required to inform the council if you have ever been charged, convicted or cautioned with a criminal offence, as laid down by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exemption) (Amendment) Order 2002. Failure to disclose full details of any previous convictions or cautions may result in your application being refused. Please see the ‘Guidelines relating to the relevance of convictions’ for details. If you are unclear of how this may affect you, please telephone the Licensing Service on 01455 238141 or e-mail .

8.  You will be issued a licence subject to:-

A completed application form,

Being medically fit to DVLA Group 2 Standard,

An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service certificate (No criminal record)

Passing the local knowledge test.

Passing the driver assessment with the Blue Lamp Trust

The council being satisfied you are a Fit and Proper person to hold a drivers licence.

9.  The local knowledge test is made up of three sections.

(a)  Numeracy

(b)  Local geography (Writing down the shortest route between two destinations)

(c)  The Highway Code and road signs

If the applicant fails to pass the knowledge test it can be retaken after two weeks. The council will allow only two attempts before refusing the application. The applicant will not be able to re-apply for a period of six months. Applicants must demonstrate good standards of communication in listening speaking and understanding the English language.

10.  To ensure professionalism in the trade the council requires all new applicants to undertake the Blue Lamp Trust driving assessment for hackney carriage and private hire drivers. You must book the assessment and pass the test prior to applying for a licence.

11.  If your application is refused the council will give written notification as to why the decision was made. You have the right to appeal to the Magistrates Court within 21 days of the decision to refuse the application.

Documentation notes

The council is required to satisfy itself that an applicant is a ‘Fit and Proper Person’ and will seek information from the Disclosure and Barring Service regarding the disclosure of criminal records. In order to carry out this procedure the Local Authority is obliged to verify the identity of all applicants. When applying for a licence you must provide the necessary original documentation. (To help combat fraud and illegal migrant workers only original documents will be accepted) Please use the table below to find out what documentation you will need to provide with your application form.

Documentation / Required
Application form / All applications
Licence fee * - See note 1 / All applications
UK / European issued drivers licence / All applications
Two passport quality photographs / All applications
DVLA licence check / All applications
Disclosure and Barring Service - see note 3 / New / three year renewal
UK Birth Certificate / Passport / EU national I.D. card* - See note three / New / three year renewal
Bank statement / Utility bill / P45/Payslip / Council tax statement / Work Visa * / New / three year renewal
Group 2 Medical examination form*
See note 2 / Upon application and then every 5 years
Local knowledge test / All Applicants
Taxi driving assessment Blue Lamp Trust – 03337 000157 / All new applications
NVQ / QCF Level 2 – Road Passenger Transport course held by Skills UK telephone - 01623 499 200 / All new applicants must register on the course prior to licence issue if available.

It is an offence under section 57(3) of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement, or omit any material particular in connection with an application and that anyone so doing shall be guilty of an offence.

1 Application fee is £142. Applicants for a new licence or a three year renewal will require an Enhanced DBS disclosure check. The fee is currently £44. The application fee is non-refundable.

2 A Group 2 Medical Certificate is required this must be completed by your own doctor. Eye tests must be completed by an Optician. Group 2 medicals are valid for a maximum of five years. Group 2 medicals must be renewed every 5 years until the age of 65 when they are renewed annually without an upper age limit.

The medical certificate must be obtained by you prior to applying for a licence.

3. Please read the DBS application form and ensure that you have filled out your application correctly in black ink only. The DBS certificate will be sent direct to you. You must supply the original DBS certificate to the council for your application to be processed.