Information for Hackney Carriage Drivers
How do I apply to become a driver?
If you are interested in becoming a Hackney Carriage Driver, please read:
How do I renew my badge?
You will receive an email approximately 6 weeks before your current licence expires.
Instructions will be included within the email and attachment as well as a unique reference number which you will need for the online application form.
Please provide the following supporting documents when completing your online application form:
- copy of your Right to Work documentation
- copy of your current driving licence
- a new and unused DVLA check code
- HMRC Tax Check code
Please do not ignore this email reminder as leaving it until nearer your renewal date may not allow enough time for the service to renew your badge - if it expires you will not be able to work.
Please note: Should your expiry date pass you cannot use the online renewal form. You have to use the link below to apply as a New Driver. There is currently a 4 month waiting period for new driver appointments.
How do I complete my driver modular training?
We are prioritising contacting mid-licence drivers whose training has been expired the longest.
You will receive an email invitation from OpenELMS – our new online e-learning platform. You will need to complete your training within 3 months of receiving your invitation, to ensure you remain compliant with our licensing conditions.
Your invitation will include a useful quick-start guide, to assist you with logging in and completing your training.
Please note – failure to complete your training within 3 months of receiving the invitation could result in your licence being suspended until the required certificates have been provided to us.
If your current Driver Modular Training has expired and your licence is due for renewal within the next 3 months, we will invite you to complete your Driver Modular Training via OpenELMS – our new online e-learning platform.
You will receive your email invite 3 months before your current licence is due to expire, this is to allow you ample time to complete your training before you are due to renew your licence.
Your invitation will include a useful quick-start guide, to assist you with logging in and completing your training.
Please note - we will be unable to issue your renewed licence until you complete your Driver Modular Training via OpenELMS.
I have a conviction or have previously been revoked or refused. What should I do?
Please read our suitability policy before submitting a new application or your renewal. All cautions, convictions and investigations must be declared.
Any convictions, cautions and penalty points will result in your application being reviewed by the Regulatory & Compliance Team. This includes any relevant information released by the police. During the review process, you will be contacted to make further comment and provide any additional information which may assist our review.
If you have been refused or had your licence revoked with another licensing authority, we will make our own enquiries to gain further information from the authority you were previously licensed with.
Tax conditionality check
Please read our tax conditionality page for further information about the tax check code you will need to provide when renewing your driver licence.
Fees
Conditions and standards
- Hackney Carriage and Private Hire - conditions and standards (PDF, 755kb)
- Commercial advertising guidance
Service Level Agreements – Renewal Applications
You can view our service level agreement for driver renewal applications here which was previously agreed with the licensed trade in November 2020.