Conditions for applying for a private hire or hackney carriage driver's licence

Private hire licence:

  • an applicant must be a fit and proper person and has held a full driver's licence for at least 12 months
  • you can apply for just a private hire driver's licence and work for a private hire operator who has private hire vehicles
  • you can apply for a private hire driver's licence and a private hire vehicle licence and work for a private hire operator
  • you can apply for a private hire driver's licence, a private hire vehicle licence and a private hire operator's licence
  • all three types of licence - private hire driver's, vehicle and operator's licence must be held by the same licensing authority. It is an offence to operate a private hire vehicle and private hire driver's licence without a private hire operator licence

Hackney carriage licence:

  • an applicant must be a fit and proper person and has held a full driver's licence for at least 12 months
  • you can apply for just a hackney carriage driver's licence and work for a proprietor who holds a hackney carriage vehicle licence
  • you can apply for a hackney carriage driver's licence and hackney carriage vehicle licence and work for yourself

Dual:

  • dual licence holders can drive both hackney and private hire vehicles

Contact the licensing team

Telephone: 01732 844522