Licence - Hackney Carriage Drivers

Hackney Carriage drivers are licensed for public safety. Once granted a licence, they are issued with a badge showing their photograph, identity number and expiry date of the licence.

To obtain a licence a driver must first:-

• Have held a full driving licence for at least 12 months prior to application;
• Undertake a medical examination carried out by the applicant's own GP, using DVLA Group 2 standards for vocational drivers;
• Successfully pass a 'Taxi' driving test conducted by the Driving Standards Agency. In addition, if the driver wishes to drive a wheelchair accessible taxi, they must also pass the wheelchair element of this test;
• Obtain a disclosure of convictions from the Criminal Records Bureau, which is a government department;
• In the case of an applicant for a taxi licence, they must also take a written, local knowledge test, consisting of locations and routes within the City Council's district. The third part of this test also applies to private hire drivers and consists of questions regarding the conditions attached to their licence and a short arithmetic test based on fares;
• Complete a Hackney Carriage Driver application form and submit this, with the appropriate fee to the City Council;