To become a taxi operator you will need to complete all of the stages below.

1. Read our taxi licence policies
2. Provide a Disclosure and Barring service check
3. Pass a safeguarding course
4. Provide a certificate of good conduct (for applicants who have lived or worked outside the UK for more than three-months)
5. Provide a tax check code
6. Provide proof of your right to work in the UK
7. Provide proof of your address
8. Apply for your licence

Read our taxi licensing policies

You will need to read our taxi licensing policies:

• Driver Policy
• Enforcement and Offences Policy
• Equality Act Policy Medical Exemption
• Operator Policy
• Vehicle Policy
• Vehicle Policy (CCTV Supplement)

Provide a Disclosure and Barring service check

You will need to provide a Basic Disclosure and Barring Service (Basic DBS) certificate. Please visit GOV.UK (opens in a new window) to obtain one.

If you are already licensed as a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver and you are signed up to the update service, you do not need to provide a Basic DBS.

If you are not already licensed as a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver, you will need to provide an updated Basic DBS every year.

Provide a certificate of good conduct

(for applicants who have lived or worked outside the UK for more than three-months)

You will need to provide a certificate of good conduct from any country (outside of the UK) where you lived or worked for more than three-months, this is from your birth, not since you moved to the UK.

A certificate of good conduct provides details of your criminal record in another country. To obtain one you will need to contact the embassy of the country where you lived or worked. For more information about how to obtain a certificate of good conduct please visit GOV.UK (opens in a new window).

If for any reason you are unable to provide a certificate of good conduct please contact us for further assistance.

Provide a tax check code

You will need to supply a tax check code if you have held a Private Hire Operator’s licence with this or any other authority in the last 12-months.

For more information on tax conditionality checks please view our tax conditionality checks online (opens in new window).

Provide proof of your right to work in the UK

You will need to provide a document to show you have the right to work in the UK.

To find out what documents you will need to provide please visit GOV.UK.

Provide proof of your address

You will need to supply proof of your current address. A list of accepted documents can be found online here (opens in new window).

Pass a safeguarding course

You will need to pass a safeguarding classroom course with our approved supplier below. Certificates will only be accepted for up to 12-months from the date of issue.

You will be required to undertake a safeguarding refresher course every three years.

• safeguarding classroom - BLUE LAMP TRUST (opens in a new window)

If you are already licensed as a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver, you will already have undertaken this training. Your certificate may be used for both your Driver and Operator applications.

Apply for your licence

To apply for your licence please complete our licence application form (opens in a new window).

You will be asked to submit all of the required documentation as part of your application. If you do not submit all of the required documentation your application may be delayed.

The documentation should be provided for all persons named on your application.

ONCE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE ALLOW AT LEAST 4 WEEKS FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE PROCESSED.

Renew your licence

To renew your Private Hire Operators Licence you will need to complete all of the stages below.

1. Read our taxi licence policies
2. Apply to renew your licence (opens in a new window).

When you submit your application you will need to do the following:

• Provide a Disclosure and Barring service check
• Provide a certificate of good conduct (for applicants who have lived or worked outside the UK for more than three-months)
• Provide a tax check code
• Provide proof of your right to work in the UK
• Provide proof of your address (opens in new window)

In addition to the above you may also need to do the following (Confirmation of whether you need to provide these will be contained in your renewal reminder):

• Pass a safeguarding course

You will be asked to submit all of the required documentation as part of your application. If you do not submit all of the required documentation your application may be delayed.

The documentation should be provided for all persons named on your application.

ONCE YOU HAVE SUBMITTED YOUR APPLICATION, PLEASE ALLOW AT LEAST 4 WEEKS FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE PROCESSED.