Taxi and private hire licensing

To operate a taxi or private hire business or to drive a taxi you must have a licence from us. You cannot drive a taxi with a private hire car driver's licence.

Update

The UK Government has created tax requirements for applications for particular licences across the UK including Scotland. The rules for completing a tax check changed on 2 October 2023 in Scotland. The new rules have already been implemented in England and Wales from 4 April 2022. Tax checks will be required for a taxi driver's licence/private hire car driver's licence and Booking Office licence.

The table below details when a tax check should be carried out prior to lodging an application and when confirmation of being aware of the HMRC guidance relating to tax checks is sufficient.

Please note that all renewal applications require the applicant to provide a 9 character tax code on the application form. Renewal applications will not be accepted by the Licensing Authority without an applicant's 9 character tax code provided by HMRC. The tax code provided from HMRC is valid for 120 days so please ensure when submitting a renewal application that a valid tax code is provided on the application. To complete a tax check www.tax.service.gov.uk/tax-check-for-licence/start.

For most grant applications, an applicant will be required to confirm they are aware of their HMRC tax obligations when submitting an application. However, there may be circumstances (see table below) when a 9 character tax code will be required.

To find out more information about your tax registration obligations please visit

Renewal application	New Grant application where last licence expired/revoked less than 1 year from date of new application	New Grant (and holds same type of licence with another licensing authority)	New Grant and never held same type of licence before	New Grant and previously held licence that expired/revoked over a year ago from date of new application
Tax Check and 9 character code provided with application	Tax Check and 9 character code provided with application	Tax Check and 9 character code provided with application	Applicant must confirm on application form aware of HMRC guidance relating to tax obligations	Applicant must confirm on application form aware of HMRC guidance relating to tax obligations

Taxi and private hire car drivers

Licences are issued for 3 years and you must display an identification badge whilst driving. We need to check:

your driving licence
your criminal records check (PVG)
your medical assessments, if applicable

You'll need to provide:

your DVLA driving licence
three passport sized photographs

Wheelchair accessible taxi and private hire vehicles

On 28 June 2022, the Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 came into effect which introduced new (and amending existing) legislation for taxi and private hire car drivers and operators in respect of disabled passengers.

Taxi and private hire operators

You must apply for a private hire operator's licence if you wish to operate a taxi private hire service. Operator's licences are issued for a period of 3 years.

Taxi booking offices

As well as an operator's licence you need a licence from us if you open or run a taxi and private hire booking office. You're exempt from a licence if you have no more than three vehicles for hire.

Maximum taxi fares

Business

Page last updated: 12/03/2024

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