How to apply for a Hackney carriage or private hire drivers licence
Fees and how to apply
Before you apply
Please read the following before you apply and contact the Licensing Section if you have any questions:
Before submitting your application, you must complete the following:
- A driving assessment with the Blue Lamp Trust: taxi driver assessments (bluelamptrust.org.uk)
Please note: If you take your assessment in an automatic vehicle, you will only be licensed to drive an automatic vehicle, not a manual. If you take your assessment in a manual vehicle, you will be licensed for both vehicle types. Visit the Blue Lamp Trust's website for frequently asked questions (bluelamptrust.org.uk) about Hackney carriage and private hire drivers and assessments - A group 2 medical with your own doctor (including an eye test by an optician): download the DVLA Group 2 medical examination report form (PDF)
Fees
- The application fee for a new or existing hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence is £177 for a three-year licence
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An enhanced disclosure and barring service (DBS) check online with UKCRB will be done by us on your behalf and the fee payable for this is £53.80. This fee must be paid to the council when you apply
- The total cost of your application to us will be £230.80
How to apply
You can apply online for a Hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence.
Alternatively, we can send you an application pack: Licensing contact form
Checklist of what you need to provide with your application
You must bring the following original documents to our offices at Hinckley Hub in person when applying for a hackney carriage or private driver's licence:
- Have a full DVLA driving licence which must be supplied with the application (both the card and paper licence in respect of new licences)
- Provide a DVLA check code view or share your driving licence (GOV.UK) which we will use to check your driving licence
- A group 2 medical form completed by your own doctor and optician
- A pass certificate for the taxi driving assessment (bluelamptrust.org.uk) which must be less than a year old
- Two current passport style photographs
- A completed information form for an enhanced DBS check
Please make an appointment to submit your application in person at the Hinckley Hub Reception by calling 01455 238141.
After you have submitted your application
- Make an appointment with the Licensing Section to take the Knowledge test, which is made up of three parts: numeracy test, Highway Code multiple choice test and route description
- You must subscribe to the DBS Update Service (GOV.UK) using your application form reference number whilst your application is being processed, or use the certificate number within 19 days of the certificate issue date. This is because disclosure and barring (DBS) checks will have to be carried out every six months in accordance with Home Office statutory guidance. When you register with the update service, it will cost £13 per year and it will mean your status can be checked online. As long as you subscribe to this service, you will not have to apply for another DBS check unless there are any changes, such as an offence being committed
- Register and pass the compulsory taxi safeguarding e-learning course (bluelamptrust.org.uk) for hackney carriage and private hire drivers within three months of the grant of your licence and provide us with the pass certificate. The fee for the course is £12
Last updated: 20/03/2024 11:55
