Taxi and private hire licences

Taxis (Hackney carriages) are often referred to as black cabs, although these days come in a variety of colours. These vehicles are identified by a taxi sign and be fitted with a meter. They can ply for hire, be flagged down [i.e. hailed in street by the public] or hired at a taxi rank.

A Private Hire Vehicle may be used to respond to bookings made through a licensed operator. The driver is not allowed to make or take his or her own bookings.

Anyone who accepts or invites bookings for private hire vehicles must have a private hire operator's licence.

Once you have been granted an operator's licence you can then employ any number of licensed vehicles and drivers, a licensed private hire driver is not allowed to accept a booking unless they hold a an operator licence or work for a licensed private hire operator.

A licensed private hire driver cannot accept a fare unless it has been booked through a licensed operator.

An operator is required to keep a register of all bookings taken, these may be inspected by the Police or the Council at any time.

We can only grant a licence if we are satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold a private hire or hackney carriage driver's licence.

The applicant must:

The applicant should have held a full UK licence authorising them to drive a motor vehicle for at least two years.

In addition to the above all none-UK citizens will be required to provide a certificate of good conduct (DBS equivalent) issued by an agency from the Country of their citizenship, and will also be required to produce evidence to confirm that they are eligible to work in the UK.

Applicants should be aware that we do make checks with the Police, other Government Departments and other Local Authorities as part of the normal application process.

All applicants for a private hire and hackney carriage driver’s licence will be required to declare any conviction(s) that have been recorded against them including any spent convictions.

The disclosure of a criminal record or other information does not automatically exclude an applicant from the grant of a licence unless it is considered that the conviction(s) renders the applicant “not a fit and proper person” to hold a licence. In these circumstances the matter will be referred to the Taxi Committee, made up of elected members. In making a decision they will consider the nature of the offence, and the impact the offence or information disclosed might have on public safety.

The information you provide to the Licensing department is processed in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998. Further information can be found here.

There are specific requirements that you must meet in order to progress with an application, please see application information.

View our current Licensing Fees list.

There are a number of checks and tests that you need to undertake in order to apply for a licence.

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licence Conditions

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence

You must apply for renewal while the existing licence is still current. You can apply for renewal up to eight weeks before the current licence expires.

It's important that all applications for renewal are made before the expiry of the current
licence. Late submissions will be treated as fresh applications.

If you're an existing driver and wish to renew your licence, you must arrange an appointment to submit your completed renewal application form, the appropriate fee, your UK driving licence and two passport size photographs to the licensing office.

Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence - For vehicle renewals please ring 01384 815050.

The responsibility for determining licence applications sits with the Taxi Committee. The committee is made up of elected members and normally meets once a month to determine policy; new applications for drivers where the applicant has any previous convictions or 6 or more penalty points on their driving licence; or reviews of licenses.