Apply for a new hackney carriage or private hire licence
Apply for a new hackney carriage or private hire drivers licence
You need a licence to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
A driver licence is valid for three years on first application and three years upon renewal.
There are two stages in the application process for getting a new driver licence:
Stage one requires applicants to collate documents and certificates prior to formally submitting an application
Stage two allows applicants to apply for either a hackney carriage or private hire driver licence, these forms allow you to upload supporting documents and pay a fee amount shown below
The whole process will take up to six weeks, assuming you pass your assessments and have all your documents ready.
New applicants should have the following prepared before submitting their application to the Licensing Authority:
Competency and compliance test
The competency and compliance test assesses your ability to understand matters of equality, disability, passenger and driver safety, and other appropriate areas as highlighted
Medical examination
Book a driver medical appointment. This can be done through D4Drivers or a GP/Doctor with your full medical history available to them. You must download the medical form, print it and take it with you to your appointment.
Driving and skills assessment
Book a driving and skills assessment with Blue Lamp Trust. The assessment takes 45 minutes. You will need to take your driving licence and current vehicle insurance certificate on the day of your assessment.
Enhanced disclosure barring service and DVLA licence checks
Register and pay for DBS and DVLA checks with TaxiPlus
Register for the update service in the deadline specified by the DBS. Failure to register for the update service will require a six-monthly DBS check at an additional cost.
Safeguarding training
Complete a safeguarding training session hosted by Trust2Ride. This two-hour session will provide drivers with the knowledge they need to protect themselves and the public. It will cover the following five modules:
Child sexual exploitation
Human trafficking
Recognising indicators and types of abuse
Driver and passenger safety
Best safeguarding practices
Passport style sized photo
Applicants will need to source a digital copy of a passport style sized photograph while satisfying the below:
It must be taken against a plain cream or plain background
It must be printed to a high quality, such as photos
It must be printed by a booth or studio (photographs printed at home are unlikely to be of a high enough quality)
It must be clear and in sharp focus
It must be be taken within the last month
It must be in colour on plain white photographic paper
Once you have completed the pre-application checks, you will be asked to submit and pay for your application.
In order to proceed, you need to provide the following:
your DBS update service reference number
a copy of your DBS certificate
a copy of your safeguarding training certificate
a copy of your driving and skills assessment certificate
a copy of your completed medical form
your national insurance number
a copy of your competency and compliance test pass
a passport style photograph
After your application has been submitted, it will be validated and determined. This will be in line with the following time scales:
Validation form application received - 3 working days
Determining grant - 10 working days
Issuing after grant - 7 working days
Total time from application to issue - 17 working days or 25 days
If your application is granted you will receive a declaration to been signed.