Any person who wants to work self-employed driving a Private Hire vehicle in Cornwall must first obtain a Private Hire Operator’s licence from Cornwall Council
A Private Hire Operator must ensure that every Private Hire vehicle dispatched is licensed and driven by a person who holds a Private Hire Driver licence, also issued by Cornwall Council.
If an employer holds a Private Hire Operator’s licence this allows employees to drive Private Hire vehicles without obtaining their own Private Hire Operator’s licence. This applies to anyone who plans to take pre-bookings for the carriage of passengers in licensed Private Hire vehicles.
An application for a Private Hire Operator’s licence does not constitute a grant of planning permission to operate a business from the premises that you intend to use as a booking office.
Please advise the Planning and Building Control Department as to the intended change of use of a property.
Private hire operator's licences are subject to private hire operator conditions.
How to apply
Apply for a Private Hire Operator Licence
Please refer to the application guidance before completing the form.
Once completed, the form must be returned to Licensing Service, together with a basic criminal record check (if not a licensed driver), a current certificate of insurance for Public Liability Insurance (if a booking office is to be used) and the appropriate fee.
Applicants must ensure that the Criminal Records Disclosure is not more than one month old at time of application. A Criminal Records Disclosure is required for each applicant, director or partner.
The criminal conviction certificate is a basic Criminal Records Disclosure. A Basic Disclosure certificate can be obtained from the Disclosure and Barring Service.
Any enquiries regarding this should be directed to the Disclosure and Barring Service - email customerservices@dbs.gsi.gov.uk or telephone on 0300 020 0190.
Operator licences are issued up to 5 years. Operators must apply to renew their licence before the expiry date.
Fees
View the full list of taxi licence fees Data Protection / UK General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)
Please refer to our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles privacy notice under UK GDPR.