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Taxi driver licence

• Requirements for new applicants
• Applicants from EU states and other countries
• Tests for applicants
• Issue of licence/identity badge

Requirements for new applicants

A new applicant for a driver licence must be at least 21 years old and have held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years. (Full driving licences issued by EU States can count towards the qualification requirements)

An applicant will be requested to submit the following:

• A completed New application for a licence to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle 225kb
• A completed CRB Enhanced Disclosure Application form together with three forms of identification. (a CRB Disclosure Form is unavailable electronically and can only be obtained by contacting the licensing officer)
• Pay the initial application fee.

When submitting an application there is a requirement to declare any previous convictions criminal or motoring an applicant may have. A previous conviction(s) may not be a bar to obtaining a licence unless it is considered that the conviction(s) render the applicant unsuitable. Read the council's Statement of policy and guidance about relevant conditions 43kb

You will also be required to supply details of a character reference to whom the council will write. This person must have known the applicant personally for at least 3 years, and should not be connected with his/her family or the taxi/private hire trade.

Applicants from EU states and other countries

In addition to the normal CRB Enhanced Disclosure, applicants who have resided in the UK for less than 5 years prior to the date of application are required to provide a certificate of good conduct or an equivalent document from any country in which they have lived within the previous 5 years. This should be officially translated into English at the applicant’s expense. The CRB website gives information about obtaining certificates of good conduct or similar documents from a number of countries. Applicants will also be asked to provide documentary evidence that they are allowed to work in this country.

The Driving Licence (Community Driving Licence) Regulations 1996 amended legislation to allow full driving licences issued by EU States to count towards the qualification requirements for the application of a licence.

Tests for applicants

At the time of application a copy of the council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Conditions and Byelaw booklet 1.2mb will be issued to each applicant together with a copy of the council’s Medical Examination form for Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence 232kb as each new applicant will be required to undergo a medical examination.

In 1996 higher standards of medical fitness were introduced for taxi and private hire drivers with the effect that they must comply with Group2 Medical Standards of Fitness. All examinations should be undertaken by a GP within the practice where the applicant is registered to ensure that the doctor has access to the applicant’s medical history. If this advice is ignored and the applicant produces a medical certificate from another doctor the council can exercise its power under Section 57(2) Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and request an applicant to submit to an examination by a doctor selected by the council.

All applicants are required to sit an oral or written test, based on the information contained in the booklet, relevant to the licence applied for. A test appointment can only be made after the appropriate replies have been received from the CRB and reference provided. The test will include:

• Knowledge of the hackney carriage and private hire byelaws and licensing conditions.
• Knowledge of the district which includes identifying the locations of roads, public buildings, pubs, clubs, places of interest, military establishments and towns and villages within the district.

A pass mark of 80% is required in each test in order to obtain a licence. Upon successful completion of the knowledge tests the applicant will be required to undergo a driving assessment.

Issue of licence/identity badge

A successful applicant will be required to produce the following prior to a licence and driver identity badge being issued:

• A current full UK driving licence
• A medical examination form
• 2 passport size photographs.
• The appropriate licence fee.