Taxi Driver Licences

Driving licences for taxis and private hire vehicles

You need a licence to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle. Taxi Driver Licences

There are different ways for you apply depending on whether you’ll operate:

Outside London

You must apply to your local council for a licence to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV). Taxi Driver Licences

Eligibility

To apply you must:

• be able to work legally in the UK
• have held a full GB or Northern Ireland driving licence – or a full EU driving licence – for at least 12 months

You must also be a ‘fit and proper person’ – which means your background and character will be checked. Your council may carry out an enhanced criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

You may also need:

• a medical examination
• a ‘knowledge’ test
• to take a driving test

What you’ll do

You could work for a taxi firm or be self-employed. Depending on your licence, you may be booked in advance, wait on an official taxi rank or pick up passengers while on the move.

Your day-to-day duties could include:

• taking job details over the radio, by phone, on the in-car computer or via an app
• helping to load and unload passengers’ luggage
• helping passengers to get in and out of the vehicle if required
• taking payments for fares or logging them online
• keeping the vehicle clean and in a roadworthy condition
• keeping accounts and records up to date

Apply

Ask your council what the requirements are in your area, including the fees they charge and how to apply.

Renew

Ask your council how to renew your licence.

Inside London

You need to apply to Transport for London (TfL) to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle (PHV).

Check with TfL to see if you’re eligible to become a taxi or PHV driver.

Apply

Contact TfL to apply for a taxi driver licence.

Contact TfL to apply for a PHV driver licence.