Hackney carriage or private hire driver licence

Before applying, you should read our information on the National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations.

To apply for a hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence, you need to submit:

• a completed online application form, below
• a valid DVLA driving licence, or equivalent
• a recent colour passport photograph
• a valid passport or birth certificate
• evidence of your National Insurance number
• a utility bill that is less than 3 months-old
• payment of the application fee – for details, go to taxi licensing fees
• either criminal record information or a 'Certificate of Good Character' from overseas if, from the age of 10 years-old, you have spent 6 months or more continuously living outside the UK

Use the online form below to apply. After submitting your application, you'll be asked to pay the fee online using a debit card or credit card. Your card will be checked when you pay.

At the 'Authenticating payer details' page, it's important you allow time for bank checks to take place in background – please do not refresh the page, and do not use the 'submit’ button on that page unless you've waited longer than 15 seconds.

Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver licence application

Before a licence is issued you’ll need to:

• provide a valid medical report
• give consent to a DVLA check online
• provide proof of your language proficiency
• provide additional documentation, if required, showing your right to work
• complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) application online

For hackney carriage, private hire or combined driver applications, when asked you'll also need to:

• provide a Passenger Assistant Training Scheme (PATS) certificate

For restricted private hire driver applications, when asked you'll also need to:

• provide your Taxi Safeguarding Classroom Course certificate
• provide your Disability Awareness Classroom Course certificate

Processing and timescales

Although we are dependent on other agencies providing us with information, we aim to determine your application within 6 to 8 weeks of receiving a complete application and all tests being passed.

If your application is delayed due to information on your DBS or DVLA records, or from other sources, the process will take longer.