In this section
Licences for taxi drivers
Any person who drives a taxi must have a licence. There are several steps you must undertake before the council can provide you with a licence. These include a number of tests, checks and payments.
Applicants must:
- Check that you are eligible
- Understand the application costs
- Choose which licence to apply for
- Pass the council’s knowledge test
- Pass a practical driving assessment through one of the council's approved test providers
- Take a medical with your GP
- Book a 30-minute Driver Licence - New Licence appointment
- Complete our online application form
- Submit completed documents by email
The knowledge test, driving assessment and medical can be done in any order, but must be done before booking a Driver Licence - New Licence appointment.
A Driver Licence - New Licence appointment must be booked before completing our online application form.
Check that you are eligible
Applicants must:
- Be over 21 years old
- Have held a full UK or EEA driving licence for at least two years
- Be entitled to work in the UK
- Have an email address
Understand the application costs
- Knowledge test: £114.48
- If you do not pass the knowledge test and need to retake it, either £78.44 including training or £35.51 for the test only
- Licence: £343.50
- Criminal records / DBS check: £50.02
Licences can last for up to three years.
Full details of the application process and criteria are contained in our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy 2021-2026 (PDF 1.34 MB).