If you want to work as a self-employed driver of a private hire vehicle in Cornwall, you must first get a Private Hire Operator's Licence from Cornwall Council.
Private Hire Operators are responsible for making sure that any private hire vehicle they book is properly licensed. It must also be driven by someone who holds a Private Hire Driver Licence issued by Cornwall Council.
If an employer already has a Private Hire Operator's Licence, employees do not need to get their own Operator's Licence to drive their private hire vehicles. This applies to anyone taking advance bookings for passenger journeys in licensed private hire vehicles.
Please note that applying for a Private Hire Operator's Licence does not give you planning permission to run a business from your chosen booking office. If planning permission is required, you will need to apply for it separately.
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),
current certificate of insurance for Public Liability Insurance (if a booking office is to be used)
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 about this should be directed to the Disclosure and Barring Service:
Email customerservices@dbs.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 Private Hire Operators privacy notice under UK GDPR.