Information for Taxi and Private Hire Drivers and Operators

All drivers are carefully vetted by Swindon Borough Council prior to being licensed.

In order to ensure that applicants do not have a history which would make them unsuitable, all applicants must obtain an Enhanced Disclosure from the Criminal Records Bureau. This is a document containing information held by the police and government departments.

In addition, applicants must take and pass a test of their knowledge of roads and buildings in the borough.

They are also re required to undergo, with a qualified advanced driving instructor, an assessment of their driving skills to ensure that the travelling public is offered an above-average standard of driving.

Identification of Drivers

All drivers must wear the identity badge issued by the Council:

• A white badge is issued to all Hackney carriage drivers
• A yellow badge is issued to all drivers of private hire vehicles

All badges contain the following information on the front of the badge:

• The Swindon Borough Council logo
• The driver's photograph
• The driver's Hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence number
• The expiry date of the licence