Taxi/private hire car driver's licence

Taxi and private hire driver’s licence

You can apply for a taxi or private hire driver’s licence online. To complete your application, we will check your identity, your right to work in the UK, and your background. You must also attend an appointment in person and may need to provide extra documents. This page explains how to apply, what you need to bring, how your application is assessed, and what it costs.

Apply for a licence

You start by applying online for a taxi or private hire driver’s licence.

After you apply, you must book an appointment to visit our Fleet services office. At this visit, we check your identity and your right to work in the UK.

Call 01698 717728 to book your appointment.

What you need to bring

You must bring original documents to your appointment. We cannot accept copies.

Examples include:

• Passport
• Biometric Residence Permit
• Permanent Residence Card

We will copy your documents and keep them with your application.

A UK driving licence on its own is not proof that you can live and work in the UK.

There is a £10.60 fee for the immigration check. This applies to new applications and, in some cases, renewals.

Right to work checks

By law, we cannot issue a licence to anyone who does not have the right to work in the UK.

We carry out checks as part of your application. If you are renewing your licence and need another check, we will contact you.

If you have lived outside the UK

You must tell us if you have lived outside the UK for 6 months or more.

If you have, you must:

• list all countries you have lived in since birth
• provide a criminal record check for each country where you lived from age 16

These criminal record checks must:

• be issued within 6 months of your application
• be translated into English if needed
• be verified by the relevant consulate or embassy in the UK.

If the country is part of the Hague Convention, you can provide an Apostille certificate instead.

You must arrange these checks yourself through the relevant country or embassy. We cannot make a decision on your application until we receive them.

Further information can be found on Criminal records checks for overseas applicants (GOV.UK) website

Criminal record checks in the UK

We will also carry out checks within the UK as part of your application to assess your suitability to hold a licence.

How we process your application

We send a copy of your application to Police Scotland.

There is a 28-day consultation period where they can raise any objections.

If you have not heard from us within 28 days, contact Licensing and Registration Services and we will update you.

Collecting your documents

When your documents are ready:

• you must bring proof of identity when collecting them

If someone collects them for you, they must:

• bring their own photo ID
• bring a signed letter from you giving permission

The letter must include details of who is collecting the documents for you.

We will compare your signature with your application. We cannot accept email permission.

New applications

If you are applying for a new licence, you must:

Pass a route test

You need to pass a route test before you can hold a licence. You can book this when you apply.

Complete driver training

You must complete our training course within six months of your licence being granted.

The course costs £5.

Renewing your licence

You can apply to renew your licence before it expires.

You will:

• follow a similar process to a new application
• pay a renewal fee
• complete any checks we require, including immigration checks if needed

We will contact you if anything extra is required.

Fees

• new taxi or private hire driver licence: £225.04
  (includes awareness course and immigration check)
• renewal of taxi or private hire driver licence: £205.96