Taxi and private hire licensing

Hackney carriage, taxi and private hire DRIVER licence

A licence is required before any person can drive a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle. The council issues a dual licence to drive hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. 

A licence is valid for three years however if there are restrictions on the length of time you may work in the UK, your licence will not be issued for any longer than this period.   

How to apply 

Please read the Key Facts below carefully to check you meet the conditions before applying as the fee is non-refundable. 

Licence fee £242, DBS check fee £60.70 

Key facts: 

New or renewal of taxi DRIVER licence. 

Driving Licence 
You must have held a full current UK or European driving licence for at least 2 years. 

Warning 
If you have 9-11 points on your licence or have a non-European licence, we will assess your application and let you know if you're able to apply. 

Age 
You must be over 18 

What you need to apply 
Before you start, please make sure you have the following information ready (further information on each point is below the list): 

  • Your national insurance number 
  • Enhanced DBS certificate, number AND we recommend you sign up to DBS Update Service or apply for one as part of this application 
  • Right to work in the UK evidence 
  • Driver assessments and training certificate (not needed if Renewal) 
  • Medical certificate (see note below if Renewal*) 
  • Residential history if not UK citizen or if you've been out of the UK for 6 months in the last 5 years 
  • Your eight digit DVLA check code 
  • Your full driving licence 
  • A digital passport style photograph you can upload 
  • Credit or debit card 
  • 9 character tax check code (not needed if New Driver) 
  • Child sexual exploitation and safeguarding certificate (not needed if Renewal) 

National Fraud Network 

We will check on the National Fraud Network to see if you have been refused a licence, had a licence suspended or had a licence revoked by another authority. We do this check on the NAFN website.  

Police vetting of applicants - DBS 

When submitting an application for a licence to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle you are requested to declare any convictions or caution’s you may have or had. The information you give will be treated in confidence and will only be taken into account in relation to your application. 

You should be aware that the licensing authority is empowered in law to check with the Disclosure & Barring Service for the existence and content of any criminal record held in the name of an applicant.  Information received from the DBS will be kept in strict confidence while the licensing process takes its course and will be retained for no longer than is necessary. 

What if I have a conviction? 

The disclosure of a criminal record or other information will not debar you from gaining a licence unless the authority considers that the conviction renders you unsuitable. In making this decision the authority will consider the nature of the offence, how long ago and what age you were when it was committed and any other factors that may be relevant. Any applicant refused a driver’s licence on the grounds that he/she is not a fit and proper person to hold such a licence has a right of appeal to a Magistrates Court. 

If you would like to discuss what effect a conviction might have on your application, you may email your question to licensing@northwarks.gov.uk . 

Failure to disclose convictions may be a criminal offence and is likely to lead to your application being refused.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS/Criminal Records Check) 

You must have an Enhanced DBS certificate. The DBS check costs £60.70 and is payable as part of this online form. Once you receive your certificate, we strongly recommend you sign up within 30 days to the DBS Update Service (opens in a new window). 

If you are already have an Enhanced DBS Certificate you will need to enter your DBS certificate number later in the form. The number starts with 00. 

How do I get a DBS Certificate?   

  1. We email you a link to complete your DBS application online once you have completed this form and paid. 
  2. Proof of identity and address. We will email you a link to book an in person appointment at our offices. List of acceptable evidence for Proof of Identity and Address - opens in a new link 
  3. Your DBS Certificate will be sent to you by post. You need to book an appointment with us so we can verify and copy your certificate 

Your right to work in the UK 

You must provide original copies of your right to work in the UK , even if you are a UK citizen. After you have submitted your application, we will ask you to visit our offices to show us your evidence. If you are renewing your licence, we may not ask to see your evidence again. 

Warning If you are not a UK or Irish citizen we will check if you are eligible to apply before you complete the application. 

Driver assessments and training 

Each applicant must have a taxi assessment certificate to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle. You will be asked to upload a copy in this form. 

If you are a new applicant, you will be required to take a driving assessment.  You book and pay for this assessment online at The Blue Lamp Trust - opens in a new window. 

Medical Assessment 

If your medical certificate is less than three years old, doesn't expire for at least 90 days and nothing has changed that could affect your ability to drive, you will not be required to undertake a further medical check until your certificate expires. You will however, be required to upload a copy of your certificate. 

*If you are renewing your licence with us and don't have a copy of your Medical Certificate, we can send you a copy to upload if we have one on file. For a copy Medical Certificate please email your name and address to licensing@northwarks.gov.uk 

 About your residential history 

If you have lived outside the UK in the past five years, for six months or more, we will need to see a ‘certificate of good character’ from the relevant embassy/country - find out more . Once you have submitted your online application, we will ask you to visit our offices to show us your certificate. 

TAX Check 

You must complete a tax check at HMRC (opens in a new window) and provide us with a code HMRC will give you as part of this form. 

Taxi Operator 

You MUST work for a Taxi Operator or have your own vehicle that has been, or is in the process of being, issued a Vehicle Licence by us (plated). If the vehicle is in the process of getting a vehicle licence the vehicle, as a minimum, MUST have passed its NWBC MOT for you to apply for a driver licence. 

Child Sexual Exploitation and Safeguarding

If you are a new applicant, you need to complete Child Sexual Exploitation and Safeguarding Training and upload your certificate into this form. You book and pay for this assessment online at High Speed Training - opens in a new window.

Payment 

Payment is £242 per licence for a 3-year licence and must be paid electronically as part of this application process by debit or credit card. If you need to complete a DBS check, you will be charged an additional £60.70. 

Once you have completed and submitted this form, you will be redirected to our secure payment provider. 

Application fees will not be refunded

We accept the following card types: 

  • Visa Debit 
  • Visa Electron 
  • JCB 
  • MasterCard Debit 
  • MasterCard Credit 
  • Maestro 
  • Visa 

Apply for a Taxi Driver Licence

Taxi and Private Hire downloads

Licensing

Address: Council House, South Street, Atherstone, CV9 1DE

Telephone: 01827715341