Hackney carriage driver licence

Taxi Trade Updates

Including information in relation to Covid-19.

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Service update – Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licences

Due to the unprecedented number of incorrect and/or incomplete applications, and a significant increase in the number of direct contacts with individual applicants (both by email and telephone), our business process for managing online applications has been reviewed and amended.

To enable us to manage the high volume of applications, and to ensure that licences are issued in a timely manner, incorrect or incomplete driver applications will now be rejected and a refund issued.

Any rejected applications will need to be resubmitted with the error(s) corrected, and the full fee paid. Failure to do so, will result in the application again being rejected. The Licensing Service is unable to offer applicants a document checking service, so it is vitally important that all supporting documentation is correctly and fully completed, in date and attached to the application.

Driver renewal applications need to be submitted at least 8 weeks before the expiry of the licence (noting that drivers are permitted to submit their renewal application up to 12 weeks before expiry). If a driver renewal application is received after this period, we cannot guarantee that the licence will be issued prior to expiry.

We thank you for your support and cooperation with this matter.

How to apply

You can find all the information needed to apply for a hackney carriage driver licence in the guide to becoming a hackney carriage or private hire driver.

How to renew

The easiest way to renew your driver licence is online. You can renew your licence up to 12 weeks before it expires.

Renew your taxi driver licence

What will I need to include with my application?

You will need to provide:

  • your tax check code
  • your DVLA check code which is available from https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence
  • proof of eligibilty to work in the UK (non UK/EU nationals only).  We can accept any of the following documents: Visa  (in current passport only), biometric card or letter from Home Office
  • a recent passport sized photo

Where applicable you will also need to email to us the following documents separately: 

Please refer to our guidance notes (doc) for further details prior to submitting your application.

Fees and charges

Our fees and charges page lists our current fees.