To drive a private hire vehicle in Bolsover District you will need to:

• Hold a combined Hackney carriage/private hire driver’s licence.
• Have access to a licensed private hire vehicle.
• Work for a Bolsover District Council licensed private hire operator

To drive a Hackney Carriage (taxi) in Bolsover District you will need to:

• Hold a combined Hackney carriage/private hire driver’s licence.
• Have access to a licensed Hackney carriage vehicle.

How to become a driver

To become a taxi driver you will need to complete all of the following stages.

1. Read our taxi licensing policies
2. Pass the knowledge test
3. National anti-fraud network check
4. DVLA check code
5. Apply for a Disclosure and Barring service check
6. Provide a certificate of good conduct (for applicants who have lived or worked outside the UK for more than three-months) 
7. Pass a practical driving test
8. Pass a safeguarding course
9. Pass a disability awareness course
10. Pass a medical examination

Renew 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

Pass the knowledge test

This test lasts one hour and will test your knowledge of the following topics:

• Local geography
• Our taxi licensing policies and taxi licensing law’s
• The Highway Code
• Numeracy and literacy

To pass the knowledge test you must get at least 70% overall. (Please note, you are only permitted to sit the test three times in any 12-month period)

To book and pay for a knowledge test please complete our online form (opens in a new window).

Once you have passed the knowledge test, you will need to submit an online Private Hire & Hackney Carriage Driver’s application (opens in a new window).

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

• A copy of your DVLA driving licence (front and back)
• Proof of your address
• A passport sized photograph against a light coloured background. We will also accept high resolution photos taken on a phone camera.
• A tax check code if you have held a Hackney carriage or private hire friver’s licence with this or any other authority in the last 12-months. For more information on tax conditionality checks please visit Tax Conditionality Checks - North East Derbyshire District Council (ne-derbyshire.gov.uk).
• Proof of your right to work in the UK. To find out what documents you will need to provide please visit GOV.UK (opens in anew window).

National anti-fraud network check

When you submit your application our licensing section will conduct a national anti-fraud network check. This check will reveal if you have had a licence suspended, refused or revoked with any other authority. This check will also reveal if any other authority has conducted a search of the database against your name.

If this check reveals any relevant information, a Data Protection request will be submitted to the relevant authority to see if they hold any information relevant to your application.

It is important you declare the existence of any current or previous licences at the time of your application. Failure to declare any relevant information may result in a delay to your application and/or call into question your suitability to hold a licence.

DVLA check code

You will need to provide a Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) check code to enable us to check your DVLA licence for endorsements.

To generate a code visit GOV.UK (opens in anew window). This code is case sensitive and is only valid for 21 days.

Apply for a Disclosure and Barring service (DBS) check

You will need to provide an Enhanced DBS Check. 

If you already have an Enhanced DBS certificate and are signed up to the DBS update service, please contact us to discuss whether we can accept your certificate. If we are able to accept your certificate you will need to provide details of this on your application form.

Applicants who don’t have an Enhanced DBS will need to complete an application for a new Enhanced DBS check at Taxi Plus (opens in anew window).

Upon receipt of your Enhanced DBS certificate, you must send a copy to us.

You are required to sign up to the DBS update service, You will have 20 days from the issue of the certificate to register to the update service. Details on how you can sign up can be found at GOV.UK (opens in a new window).

Please note that we complete update checks on your DBS certificate at least once a month. If you do not maintain a subscription to the DBS update service your licence may be suspended until you obtain a new DBS.

Provide a certificate of good conduct

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.

Pass a practical driving test

You will need to pass a practical driving test with one of our approved suppliers below. Certificates will only be accepted for up to 12-months from the date of issue.

Tests can be booked with;

• Taxi Assessments (opens in a new window)
• Taxi Test (opens in a 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 (opens in a new window)

Pass a disability awareness course

You will need to pass a disability awareness course with us which will form part of your knowledge test.

Pass a medical examination

You will need to pass a medical examination with your own GP.

To book a medical examination you will need to contact your GP for an appointment. When you attend your appointment you will need to take a medical declaration and group two medical form and ask your doctor to complete all sections. A copy of these forms will be provided to you on completion of your knowledge test.

You will be required to undertake a medical examination every five years up to the age of 65. When you reach the age of 65 you will be required to undertake a medical examination annually.

Renew your licence

You will need to read our taxi licensing policies:

• Driver Policy
• Enforcement and Offences Policy
• Equality Act Policy Medical Exemption
• Operator Policy
• Vehicle Policy

To submit your application please complete our online form (opens in a new window).

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

• Provide a DVLA check code to enable us to check your DVLA licence for endorsements. To generate a code please visit GOV.UK (opens ina new window). This code is case sensitive and is only valid for 21 days.
• Provide proof of your current address. A list of approved documents for Proof of address is available to download.
• Provide a passport sized photograph showing your head and shoulders against a light coloured background. We will also accept high resolution photos taken on a phone camera.
• Provide proof of your right to work in the UK. To find out what documents you will need to provide please visit GOV.UK (opens in a new window).
• Provide a tax check code. For more information download our tax conditionality checks document.
• Provide a disability certificate with a Council approved supplier and provide a copy of the certificate to us.