The Town Police Clause Act 1847 requires an individual that drives a member of the public in a licensed hackney carriage vehicle to hold a hackney carriage driver licence.
Who needs to register as a hackney carriage driver?
How do I apply for a hackney carriage driver licence or renew my current licence?
What is a Criminal Record Bureau check and how do I complete one?
How long does my licence last for?
How much will it cost?
What else will I need to do?
How can I access the public register?
I want to compliment, complain or comment on a hackney carriage driver.
Any individual that drives a member of the public in a licensed hackney carriage vehicle must first obtain a hackney carriage driver licence from the Local Authority. A hackney carriage vehicle (black-cab/taxi/euro-cab) is a motor vehicle which is approved by the London Public Carriage Office. It can be, subject to Local Authority approval, a vehicle which has been specially converted as a hackney carriage and has M1 type approval or low volume type approval from the Vehicle Type Approval Authority. All licensed hackney vehicles must meet wheelchair accessibility requirements.
Unlike a private hire vehicle - including minibuses with eight passenger seats or less, hackney carriage vehicles and drivers can 'ply for hire', transporting members of the public who have not booked their journey in advance. A hackney carriage vehicle is provided for hire with the services of a driver for the purpose of carrying fare paying passengers and it can be hailed or flagged down in the street or from an appointed hackney carriage rank within the Bolton area.
There are controlled numbers of hackney carriage vehicles. This controlled number is set by the Local Authority, who is required to complete an ‘unmet demand’ survey, before limiting the number of licences issued. There are currently no available hackney carriage vehicle licences and there is a substantial waiting list for a licence.
A licensed hackney carriage driver is in a position of great responsibility – they are entrusted with the safety of their passengers and will often be working with young children and vulnerable adults. A hackney carriage driver often creates the first impression of Bolton for many of the town’s visitors.
Before completing an application form, please ensure you read the 'hackney carriage driver guidance notes' which is contained in the pack.
Contact the Licensing Team to request an application pack. The address and contact telephone number is shown on the right hand side of this page.
If you are a new applicant, the Local Authority will not grant a licence unless it is satisfied that you are a ‘fit and proper person’ (Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976). This is determined by applying the convictions policy which is shown on the right hand side of this page and upon receipt of a satisfactory criminal records check and your doctor completing a 'medical certificate' regarding your health.
The 'medical certificate', which is available to download and listed on the right hand side of this page, must confirm you are medically fit to drive to the Group II standard set by the Driving and Vehicle Licence Agency (DVLA). Please see link to the DVLA medical requirements on the right hand side of this page.
If you do not meet these requirements then your application maybe referred to the Licensing and Environmental Regulation Committee for consideration.
You must have held a full UK motor car driving licence (or European Union equivalent) for at least twelve months and you must pass a knowledge test (please see the attached 'knowledge test guidance notes' for details on the knowledge test).
To apply to be a hackney carriage driver for the first time, you will need to:
- complete the ‘hackney carriage driver application form’. Please contact the Licensing Team for the necessary application forms.
- provide one passport style photograph
- provide your full DVLA driving licence – card and counterpart
- provide proof of your national insurance number
- provide your valid passport or birth certificate
- provide proof of your current address – i.e. bank statement, utility bill
- complete a Criminal Records Bureau application form*
- pay the Criminal Records Bureau fee of £44 (as of 06.04.11)
- provide a 'medical certificate' – completed by your doctor (usually produced once a knowledge test has been successfully completed)
*Please enquire with the Licensing Team if an enhanced disclosure certificate has been issued to you in the last six months.
To renew a hackney carriage driver licence you will need to:
- complete the 'hackney carriage driver application form’. Please contact the Licensing Team for the necessary application forms.pay a licence fee of £41.00
- provide one passport style photograph
- provide your full DVLA driver licence – card and counterpart
To renew a licence it must be current at the time of the application. An application to renew a licence may be made up to one month before its expiry. Criminal Records Bureau checks are completed every three years.
Following your forty-fifth birthday you will be asked to produce a 'medical certificate' completed by your doctor every five years. Once you reach your sixty-fifth birthday the 'medical certificate' is required annually.
This process is changing - to simplify the application and payment procedure the Team is working hard to develop an on line application and payment system. This will be available in 2010.
The Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 requires all licensed hackney carriage drivers to be ‘fit and proper’. A Local Authority cannot issue a hackney carriage driver licence unless they are satisfied the applicant complies with this requirement. Certain types of convictions may prohibit you from being a hackney carriage driver.
You will be asked to complete a Criminal Records Bureau application upon application and if you continue to hold a hackney carriage driver licence every three years. For this you will need:
- your valid passport or UK birth certificate
- your full Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency licence – card and counterpart
- proof of your current address – i.e. bank statement, utility bills less than three months old.
- proof of your national insurance number.
- a completed Criminal Records Bureau application form*
- to pay a fee of £44 (as of 06.04.11)
The Criminal Records Bureau will provide an enhanced disclosure to the Local Authority and a copy will be sent to your address. The enhanced disclosure will include all current and spent convictions, cautions, motor offences and police intelligence. The information is dealt with in the strictest confidence by the Local Authority who will use it to determine if a licence can be issued.
*Please enquire with the Licensing Team if an enhanced disclosure certificate has been issued to you in the last six months.
A hackney carriage driver licence usually lasts for one year from the date of issue.
The cost for processing a new application has changed so please contact Licensing Team for more information.
To renew a hackney carriage driver licence is £41, plus £44 if a Criminal Records Check is required (every three years).
Some doctors may charge for the completion of a medical certificate and you are advised to contact your surgery to clarify this cost.
The Licensing Team will not process an application unless the necessary fee is paid in advance. Please send a cheque (made payable to Bolton Council) or postal order for the payment to the Licensing Unit - the postal address is on the right hand side of this page, or alternatively telephone the Team and pay by credit/debit card - the contact telephone number is on the right hand side of this page. Credit cards are subject to a 1.463% surcharge, this reflects the banks charges to the Council for accepting credit card payments.
This process is changing - to simplify the application and payment procedure the Team is working hard to develop an on line application and payment system. This will be available in 2010.
Once a hackney carriage driver licence is issued, all drivers are required to abide by the 'hackney carriage driver conditions' and 'byelaws' attached to the licence. Copies of the 'hackney carriage driver conditions' and 'byelaws' are available from the Licensing Team. The address and contact telephone number is shown on the right hand side of this page.
You can access the public register by clicking on the link at the right hand side of this page.
Alternatively you can view the public register for Hackney Carriage Drivers by contacting the Licensing Team by email (licensing.unit@bolton.gov.uk), telephone or in writing. The address and telephone number are provided at the right hand side of this page. The register is available in paper format, which you can view at the Licensing Unit by appointment.
If you wish to compliment, complain or comment on a hackney carriage driver please complete the ‘licensing enquiry form’ listed to the right hand side of this page. Once you have completed the form, click on file then save and attach this file to an email and forward it electronically to the Licensing Team (licensing.unit@bolton.gov.uk) or print the completed form and send it through the post. Alternatively you can contact the Licensing Team to request a pack. The address and contact telephone number is shown on the right hand side of this page.