Dual driver and private hire driver licence

We must determine if you are a "fit and proper person" under the terms of the Act in order to issue a licence. This involves a series of tests and checks being carried out with various organisations, these are

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check: This involves a search of your individual criminal record to establish whether or not you are a safe person to drive members of the public, some of which may be vulnerable, elderly or infirm. The Disclosure and Barring Service provide a centralised disclosure service that deals with all checks of criminal records for us. The Disclosure and Barring Service assessment replaced the CRB check that was previously carried out.

Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) Check: This check is designed to give us an idea of your individual driving history. This is necessary to determine whether or not you are a safe driver and capable of driving a vehicle in the manner expected of a taxi driver. It is also used to confirm that you have held a full driving licence for a period of at least 3 years. We use the information provided on your application form to undertake this check.

Medical Examination: To drive a taxi you must be able to physically carry out the work required of a licensed driver. This may involve lifting heavy objects such as luggage and possibly people's wheelchairs. Certain medical conditions may mean that you are not capable of driving professionally and it is important that we know about such problems. Taxi drivers are now required to have a DVLA Group 2 D4 medical.  The initial DVLA Group 2 medical is valid until the age of 45 years. Medicals are then renewable every five years until the age of 65 (unless the period is reduced because you have an ongoing medical condition). From the age of 65 the Group 2 medical is renewable every year without an upper age limit.

The DVLA Group 2 D4 medical report and the Certificate of Fitness must be completed by a GP with access to your full medical record. We do not accept forms completed by Doctors on Wheels.

Local Authority Check: If you have been previously licensed with another local authority or had a driver's licence revoked or suspended then you must declare this on the application form.

HMRC Tax Check: This is to check that you are registered to pay any tax that may be due on income you earn from your licensed trade.

Right to Work in the UK: We must check an applicant’s right to work in the UK. You must therefore provide the Right to Licence Declaration (DOCX, 24KB) along with a document from the list of acceptable documents as part of the application process. We need to see original documents, which must be presented in person. If there is a restriction on the length of time you may work in the UK, your licence will not be issued for any longer than this period.

Knowledge Test: In order for you to become a licensed taxi driver it is important that you have a good working knowledge of the area in which you are going to work. The knowledge test consists of three papers and is designed to test your knowledge of the area, conditions that apply to licensed drivers and the highway code. The initial knowledge test is included in the application fee. You are permitted three attempts in total at the knowledge test and there is a resit fee of £22 per paper.  Once we receive your application we will contact you to book the test. The upcoming dates for knowledge tests are:

Friday 01 November 2024 at 09:30

Friday 06 December 2024 at 09:30

The dates for resits are arranged as and when needed.

View our revision pack to help you prepare for the knowledge tests. Please read all of the documents carefully.