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New applicants will need to fill out the relevant application forms (see below).

Once completed you will need to contact the licensing office to make an appointment and bring your completed application form and required documentation for examination by the licensing section. Payment will be taken once your application has been checked.

Application forms are available to download below/ or you can obtain them from the licensing office.

Drivers licence

If you want to drive a hackney carriage (taxi) or a private hire vehicle in Dudley then you must hold a valid hackney carriage or private hire driver licence.

 

Vehicle licence

In addition to holding a licence to operate as a driver, any vehicle you use will also need to be licensed with us before it can be used as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.

Before we issue you with a vehicle licence your car will need to undergo a test to assess whether it is suitable to be used as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.

Hackney carriage

  • In order to comply with Council policy, if you are intending to purchase a hackney carriage vehicle, it should be purpose built with access for at least one wheelchair.
  • The vehicle will need to undergo the Council's compliance inspection.
  • The vehicle must be insured for Public Hire and in the case of an "Any Driver" policy, the insurance certificate must be accompanied by a schedule of drivers who have been declared to the Insurance Company.

Before purchasing the vehicle, if you have any queries, we would advise you to contact us for further advice.

Private Hire

  • The vehicle will need to undergo the Council's compliance inspection.
  • The vehicle must be insured for private hire and in the case of an "Any Driver" policy, the insurance certificate must be accompanied by a schedule of drivers who have been declared to the Insurance Company.

Before purchasing the vehicle, if you have any queries, we would advise you to contact us for further advice.

Operator licence

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.