During the current coronavirus outbreak, licensing requirements have changed for taxi and private hire vehicles.
Advice for drivers, operators and owners of taxis or private hire vehicles (PHVs) to protect against coronavirus can be found on the GOV.UK website.
Taxi and private hire licences
You need a licence to drive a taxi (sometimes called a hackney carriage) or a private hire vehicle.
You need an operator’s licence to run a taxi or private hire vehicle company.
Taxis can be flagged down in the street or they can pick up from taxi ranks. They must have an illuminated roof sign and a yellow identification plate on the rear of the vehicle. Fares are metered.
Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a private hire operator. They must have a green identification on the rear of the vehicle. They can set their own fares.
All licensed drivers and vehicles must undergo stringent checks to ensure that the travelling public are provided with a safe, comfortable and reliable service.
Important information
Tax conditionality check
From 4 April 2022 the renewal of a taxi driver licence, private hire driver licence and private hire operator licence will only be given if the person, company or any type of partnership applying for the licence can show they have completed a tax check with the HMRC.
If a tax check has not been completed, the Licensing Authority will be unable to consider your application to renew your licence and your current licence will expire. Further guidance can be found on the GOV.UK website.
DBS checks
If you apply for a licence, you will need to book an appointment with us to complete an application for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
- DBS application guidance (pdf 154 kb)
Licensing fees
A full list of our licensing fees can be found on our prices for council services webpage.
Taxi and private hire licensing policy
- Policy statement (pdf 321 kb)
- License enforcement policy (pdf 260 kb)
- Driver, vehicle and operator conditions (pdf 298 kb)
- Penalty points scheme (pdf 158 kb)
Public register
By law, we have to make certain registers of licence holders publicly available.
Application forms
Dual hackney carriage private hire vehicle driver licence
- Dual hackney carriage private hire vehicle driver licence - new (word 75 kb)
- Dual hackney carriage private hire vehicle driver licence - renewal (word 64 kb)
Hackney carriage vehicle licence
- Hackney carriage vehicle licence - new (word 53 kb)
- Hackney carriage vehicle licence - renewal (word 79 kb)
- Hackney carriage vehicle licence - change (word 62 kb)
- Hackney carriage vehicle licence - transfer (word 53 kb)
- Hackney carriage vehicle licence - temporary (word 54 kb)
Private hire vehicle operator licence
- Private hire vehicle operator licence - new (word 77 kb)
- Private hire vehicle operator licence - renewal (word 69 kb)
Private hire vehicle licence
- Private hire vehicle licence - new (word 55 kb)
- Private hire vehicle licence - renewal (word 81 kb)
- Private hire vehicle licence - change (word 53 kb)
- Private hire vehicle licence - transfer (word 53 kb)
- Private hire vehicle licence - temporary (word 54 kb)
- Private hire vehicle licence - exemption (word 61 kb)
Restricted private hire driver's licence
- Restricted private hire driver's licence - new (word 75 kb)
- Restricted private hire driver's licence - renewal (word 58 kb)
Courier fraud leaflet
Fraudsters have been using unsuspecting couriers and taxi drivers to steal thousands of pounds from elderly or vulnerable members of the public.