To licence your vehicle as a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle you will need to complete all of the stages below.
- Read our taxi licencing policies
- 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 proof of ownership
- Provide proof of insurance
- Get an approved CCTV unit installed
- Get a fares meter fitted and calibrated (Hackney Carriages only)
- Apply for your licence
- Get your vehicle tested
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)
You must ensure your vehicle meets the specification set out in the Council’s Vehicle and Vehicle (CCTV) policies before submitting your application.
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, NOT every 6 months.
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 proof of ownership
You will need to provide proof that you are the owner of the vehicle. Acceptable documents include:
- a copy of your vehicle log book (V5C) (please provide all pages)
- a new keeper supplement
- a receipt or proof of purchase
- a copy of a lease hire agreement
If you do not have a copy of your log book (V5C) please visit Get a vehicle log book (V5C): Get a replacement log book (V5C) (opens in new window) - GOV.UK to obtain a copy.
If you do not provide a copy of your log book (V5C) with your application please send a copy to the licensing section as soon as you are in receipt of it.
Provide proof of insurance
You will need to provide a copy of your insurance document showing that the vehicle is insured for use as a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle.
Get an approved CCTV unit installed
You must have an approved CCTV unit installed in your vehicle before you take your vehicle for its compliance test.
Here is a list of approved suppliers (opens in new window).
Get a fares meter fitted and calibrated (Hackney Carriages only)
If you are applying for a Hackney Carriage Vehicle licence your vehicle must have a fares meter fitted and it must be calibrated to the fares set by the Council.
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 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.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO YOUR TEST.
Get your vehicle tested
You will need to take your vehicle for a MOT and compliance test at the Council’s testing station. For information about how to book a test please visit our MOT web page (opens in new window).
If your vehicle passes its test the vehicle will be fitted with Council approved signage during the test and the paper part of your licence will be emailed out to you.
If your vehicle fails its test the testing station will give you further instructions on how to book a re-test.
Renew your licence
To renew your Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle licence you will need to complete the same process outlined above.
