Driver licence overview
For the safety and protection of the public, you must hold a valid licence issued by us if you want to drive hackney carriage (taxi) or a private hire vehicle.
You can apply for a licence to drive a hackney carriage, a private hire vehicle or a dual licence which allows you to drive both.
- hackney carriage vehicles can ply for hire on the streets and can use the taxi ranks around Brentwood
- private hire vehicles can be pre-booked for hire by the public through a licensed private hire operator, but can't ply for hire or use taxi ranks
Licences are valid for up to three years.
You can check whether a hackney carriage or private hire driver is licensed with us by visiting Public Access.
Before you apply for a new licence or apply to renew or change a licence, you should re-read our information on the National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations (PDF).
For more information on the standards, criteria and other requirements, view the Hackney carriage and private hire licencing policy (PDF).
Apply for a new driver licence
To apply for a hackney carriage, private hire or dual driver's licence, you must complete the online application and submit copies of:
- a valid DVLA driving licence
- a recent passport style photograph
- a valid passport or birth certificate
- evidence of your National Insurance number
- a utility bill that’s less than three months old
- If any applicant has, from the age of 10 years, spent six continuous months or more living outside the United Kingdom then criminal records information or a ‘Certificate of Good Character’ from overseas must also be provided
- your right to work in the UK. To check what you can send, visit GOV.UK: Licensing authority guide.
- payment of the application fee. You can find details of the fees by visiting taxi licensing fees.
Before a licence is issued you’ll also need to:
- provide a valid group 2 medical report
- meet the tax check requirements
- have met our safeguarding and child sexual exploitation awareness training criteria from The Blue Lamp Trust: Safeguarding
- have met our approved disability awareness training requirements from The Blue Lamp Trust: Disability awareness course
- be subject to an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check
- sign up to the DBS update service
- give consent to a DVLA check online
- provide proof of your language proficiency
- provide additional documentation, if required, showing your right to work
Renew or change a driver licence
To renew a hackney carriage, private hire driver's or dual licence, you must complete the online application form and submit copies of:
- a valid DVLA driving licence
- a recent passport style photograph
- a valid passport or birth certificate
- a utility bill that is less than three months old
- Complete a GOV.UK tax check for a taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence
- If any applicant has, from the age of 10 years, spent six continuous months or more living outside the United Kingdom then criminal records information or a ‘Certificate of Good Character’ from overseas must also be provided.
- your right to work in the UK. To check what you can send, view the Hackney carriage and private hire licencing policy (PDF).
- payment of the application fee. You can find details of the fees by visiting taxi licensing fees.
Before a licence is renewed, you may also need to:
- provide a valid group 2 medical report, every fifth year or in accordance with the age policy
- be signed up to the DBS update service
- give consent to a DVLA check online
Even if your licence is not due for renewal, you must let us know of any change to your address, or any new convictions or penalty points.
Processing and timescales
Although we are dependent on other agencies providing us with information, we aim to determine your application as soon as possible.
Renewal applications will be processed within four weeks of a complete application being received.
New applications will be processed within six to eight weeks of receiving a complete application and all tests being passed.
Forms
After submitting your application, you’ll be asked to pay the fee online using a debit card or credit card. Your card will be checked when you pay.