Drivers

We are responsible for licensing hackney carriages (taxis) and private hire vehicles drivers. Anyone who acts as driver of any licensed hackney carriage or private hire vehicle (even when not carrying passengers) must hold a hackney carriage/private hire driver's licence. Any person may apply for a hackney carriage driver's licence.

We will not grant a licence:       

• unless it is satisfied the applicant is a 'fit and proper person' to hold a driver's licence
• to any person that has not held a full licence to drive a motor car for at least 12 months at the time of application.

To assess whether an individual is a 'fit and proper person' we will consider medical fitness, knowledge of the local area and criminal record history. Our policy on the relevance of convictions (PDF, 02.MB, 8 pages) may be taken into consideration.

View the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver's Licence Conditions (PDF, 80KB, 3 pages).

Apply for a license online.

A fee must be paid at the time an application is made. The fees covers the cost of administration, and enforcement activity, to view the fees. The fee is not refundable in the case of an unsuccessful application.

Best Practice Guidance has been issued by the Department for Transport.

The main legislation which governs the licensing of hackney carriage and private hire is the Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 Part 2.