Taxi/private hire car driver's licence

How to apply

Please note the Licensing Authority is under a statutory duty not to issue licences to people disqualified by their immigration status. You need to provide evidence of your right to be in the UK and to undertake work as a taxi or private hire car driver.

You need to make an appointment to attend our Fleet services office in person to have your evidence checked. There will be a fee payable for this. Your application should have already been submitted online. Only original documents can be accepted, for example, a passport, a current Biometric Residence Permit or a Permanent Residence Card. We will copy your document(s) to keep with your application.

A UK driving licence is not evidence of your right to live and work in the UK.

How the application is dealt with

There is a 28-day objection period. A copy of your application goes to Police Scotland for any comments or objections.

If you haven't had an acknowledgement from us within 28 days please contact the Licensing and registration services and we will let you know about your application's progress.

You must bring proof of identification when you collect your documents. 

If someone else collects for you, they must bring photographic proof of their identification and something in writing stating that you give your permission. This must be signed by you and give the details of the person who is collecting your documents. The signature on the letter will be compared with the signature on the application form. We will not accept an email.

The Immigration Act 2016 (the 2016 Act) amended existing licensing regimes in the UK to seek to prevent illegal working in the private hire car and taxi sector. The provisions in the 2016 Act prohibit all licensing authorities from issuing licences to anyone who is disqualified because of their immigration status and they discharge this duty by conducting immigration checks. If you are applying for a new grant of a taxi/private hire car driver's licence you need to make an appointment to attend the office in person to have your immigration status checked by phoning 01698 717728. There is an additional cost of £10.60. If you are applying for renewal of your current taxi/private hire car driver's licence and an immigration status check is required the additional £10.60 cost will need to be paid. You will be notified should an immigration check be required.

New grant, temporary and renewal of taxi and private hire car drivers

You will be asked if you have resided outside the UK for 6 months or more before applying for the grant or renewal of the licence. If you have, you will be asked to provide details of any countries outside the UK where you have lived since birth. For each country you have lived in since age 16, you must produce a Criminal Record Check for that country authenticated by the appropriate Consulate/Embassy in the UK obtained within six months of applying. This is required to show whether you have been convicted of any offences whilst living in that country. A decision on your application will not be made until this/these are received.

Criminal record checks

The Criminal Record Check must be translated into English and verified by the relevant UK-based Embassy, Consulate or High Commission. Alternatively, if the document was issued in a country that follows the Hague Convention (1961), it can be verified with an Apostille Certificate.

The application process for criminal records checks or ‘Certificates of Good Character’ for someone from overseas varies from country to country. You’ll have to apply in the country or to the relevant embassy in the UK.

Further information can be found on the following websites: 

How to obtain an overseas criminal record check (National Protective Security Authority)

Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (GOV.UK)

New grant for taxi and private hire car drivers

You must pass a route test to hold a taxi or private hire car driver's licence. You can book an appointment to sit the route test when you apply for your licence.

All applicants for new grants of taxi or private hire car driver's licences must attend and complete our training course within six months of the application being granted. There is an additional cost of £5.

How much does it cost?

• taxi driver/ private hire car driver new grant - £217.86 (includes awareness course and immigration check)
• taxi driver /private hire car driver renewal - £199.39

If you have any questions, contact the Licensing office at Fleet Services, Blantyre.