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Anyone who drives a hackney carriage (more commonly called a ‘taxi’), or private hire vehicle must hold a hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence, issued by us.
Applying for a licence involves:
- providing the results of a medical assessment
- passing a practical driving test
- having an enhanced DBS check so officers can consider any criminal convictions, reprimands or warnings
- having your DVLA driving licence checked for any driving convictions or endorsements
- proving you have the legal right to work in the United Kingdom
- being checked against the National Taxi Driver Revocation and Refusals Database (NR3)
- learning about safeguarding and child exploitation
- passing a knowledge test to demonstrate you know the local area and understand the rules of being a licensed driver.
Fees and charges
Current fees and charges can be found on our Fees and charges page.
Knowledge test
All new drivers wishing to apply for a hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence will need to first pass the knowledge test before proceeding with the application.
Knowledge test
The knowledge test consists of 6 sections:
- Numeracy
- Legal Responsibilities
- Licence responsibilities
- Locality
- Child Exploitation /Sexual Exploitation
- Attitudes and Behaviours
The pass mark is 80%, but there is also a requirement that 50% of the questions in each section are answered correctly. The test is made up of 34 questions and you will have an hour to sit the test.
If you do not pass first time, you will have to wait 2 weeks to sit the test again. If you fail on the second attempt, you will have to wait a further 2 weeks to re-sit, and if you fail a third time, you will have to wait 6 months before attempting the test again.
You will need to have knowledge on how to identify Child Exploitation/Sexual Exploitation, this information leaflet will be forwarded to you once you have booked onto the Knowledge Test. You will also need to have good numeracy skills and good knowledge of the local area.
Legal and Licence Responsibilities
Applying for a licence
If you’re applying for a licence in the former Taunton Deane Borough Council area, you must read our TDBC policy handbook (PDF 553KB). It explains how we deal with applications, in particular from people with criminal convictions.
For licences in the former West Somerset Council area, you must read the policy and WSC policy handbook (PDF 1.28MB) to make sure you fully understand the requirements relating to drivers.
In deciding whether you are suitable to be granted a licence or not, we will take into consideration:
- your health
- any endorsements or convictions on your DVLA driving licence
- any convictions, reprimands or cautions you have ever received
- your attitude and demeanour.
Completing and submitting the application form
You will need to submit:
- Completed medical certificate (PDF 153KB)
- Driving assessment certificate
- Disclosure and Barring Service form, this is completed online
- 3 x ID documents suitable for DBS check (including proof of your right to work in the UK)
- Passport sized photograph
- Application fee
You must fill in all the forms except the ‘Questions for Medical Adviser’. You must arrange a medical examination with your GP or another doctor, who will complete this part of the form.
You can apply for a 1, 2 or 3-year licence.
To complete your Driver Assessment:
Applicants will need to provide proof that they have passed the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) taxi driver assessment or an equivalent practical driving test for taxi and private hire drivers. We have a list of providers of the practical driving test for taxi and private hire drivers (PDF 129KB).
You will be sent a link from the Licensing Department for the DBS to complete the application online, via the U Check system.
Please see the list of suitable DBS ID documents (PDF 1.28MB), this will tell you about the types of documents we can accept. We only accept domestic bills relating to the address and show that you are the bill payer. These include gas, electric, water, landline phone and council tax bills. You cannot use your driving licence as proof of your address.
We won’t accept your application if it is incomplete.
When we get a full application, we will complete your DBS ID check with you at the Council Offices, we will also need to check you are legally able to work in the UK.
It can take 2-10 weeks to get the results. You can track the progress of your Disclosure using your DBS reference number. If you receive a paper certificate from the DBS , you must send or bring this to Licensing for checking.
If we grant you a licence, we will aim to give you a paper licence and badge within 14 days of reaching a decision. If we do not to grant you a licence, we will send you a notice and you can appeal the decision.
You will get a licence document and badge. The badge must be worn at all times when you are working. The licence will last for the duration of the licence as granted. We will contact you about 2 months before the licence runs out to remind you to renew it however, the responsibility for renewing your licence in time will remain with you.
This licence will allow you to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles in the area you choose. You will need to apply for a hackney carriage vehicle licence or apply for a private hire vehicle licence for any vehicle that you drive.
Laws and regulation
Licences to act as the driver of a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle are issued under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and Town Police Clauses Act 1847.
Taxi and private hire driver medical
If you are a licensed hackney carriage or private hire vehicle driver and need to provide a medical certificate, you must get your GP or another registered medical practitioner to examine you and complete the Taxi and private hire medical form (PDF 102KB).
Once completed, use our online licencing application form to submit it.
If the medical is related to the renewal of your driver’s licence, please submit it with the renewal application form.
Renewing taxi and private hire vehicle driver licence
We normally send licensed drivers a renewal reminder letter around 2 months before the expiry of their licence.
Use our online licensing application form to submit your application and pay the fee.
Renew or apply for your Driver's Licence
To renew or apply for your Hackney or Private Hire Driver’s licence, use our online form:
Renew or apply for your Hackney or Private Hire Driver's Licence