Any person who wants to work self employed driving a private hire vehicle must first obtain a private hire operator’s licence from the local authority.
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.
Licensed operators must keep a record of all bookings in a suitable log book, which includes:
- the date of the booking
- the date of the required journey
- the time and point of pick up, the destination
- details of the vehicle used and its driver
- any additional remarks
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
You can view the full list of taxi licence fees here.
