The private hire regulations have recently changed and include a new English language requirement. You should familiarise yourself with the changes before submitting your application
We continue to receive a large number of private hire driver applications every week (numbers have doubled in the past two years), and are legally required to issue a licence to anyone who meets our criteria for licensing. Before you apply, we strongly recommend that you consider the number of existing licensed private hire drivers in the industry, and carefully research whether this is the right job for you, taking into account:
- Income
- Hours
- Outlay costs – including purchasing/renting a suitable vehicle, additional equipment and the costs of annual hire and reward insurance
- Whether you are suited to solitary working
You may want to speak to private hire drivers or your local minicab firm, or contact one of the following trade bodies, for further advice:
- GMB Union – professional drivers branch
- The Licenced Private Hire Car Association
- Private hire board
There are licensed operators all across London, offering a variety of services. Once licensed, you can work for any private hire operator licensed in London.
In order to be licensed, you will need to meet the following criteria:
- You must be at least 21 years of age at the time of applying. There is no upper age limit, as long as you meet the other licensing requirements
- You must hold a full DVLA, Northern Ireland, or other EEA state driving licence that’s at least three years old
- You must have the right to live and work in the UK
- You must be of good character. To establish this you will be required to undertake an ‘enhanced’ criminal records check from DBS through our service provider –GBGroup
- You must be medically fit which means meeting the DVLA Group 2 standards. In most cases, this will mean that you will have to undergo a medical examination with someone who has access to your full medical history
- You will need to undertake a topographical skills assessment from an accredited assessment centre
How to apply
If you can meet all of the above criteria and wish to apply, you can complete your application online or request an application pack.
You will be asked to provide some personal details so we can create an account for you and allow you to complete your online application or request an application pack.
Alternatively, please call us on 0343 222 4444 or email us to request an application pack.
If you have lived in a country other than the UK for one or more continuous periods of three months or more within the last three years, please download the living and working abroad form and submit this with your application.Living and working abroad form
Character requirements
You must be of good character. To establish this you will be required to undertake an ‘enhanced’ criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) through our service provider – GBGroup
Medical requirements
You must be medically fit which means meeting the DVLA Group 2 medical standards. In most cases, this will mean that you will have to undergo a medical examination with someone who has access to your full medical history
FEES
| Application fee | £250 |
| CRB online application | £56.85 |
| CRB paper application | £58.85 |
| Post Office Check and Send | £7.15 |
| Medical | Payable to your GP who can advise you of the cost |
Character requirements
You must be of good character. To establish this you will be required to undertake an ‘enhanced’ criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) through our service provider – GBGroup
Equal opportunities
Becoming a licensed taxi or private hire driver is open to all. If you’re a disabled person and interested in becoming a driver, there are some things to consider.
We try to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to get through the application and assessment process. However, there are some medical conditions that, for public safety reasons, will mean you can’t be licensed, so it’s important that you discuss your situation with your GP before you apply. For full information on medical guidelines, please refer to the DVLA Group 2 guidelines.
Some licensed taxis and private hire vehicles have modifications that enable people to drive them. Vehicle adaptations include:
- Steering wheel ball
- Hand-operated braking controls
- Hand-operated accelerator control
- Reconfigured foot pedal controls
- Infra-red control panel for operating vehicle lights, indicators and horn
Drivers who use vehicle adaptations will need to be assessed by a medical professional and driver assessor. They will recommend what adaptations are needed and exactly what equipment must be fitted to ensure the driver has full control of the vehicle at all times.
The recommended adaptations and equipment must be fitted by an authorised motability installer. We require documentary evidence that the installer is authorised.
Before you have any equipment fitted or adaptations made to your vehicle you should first contact our licensing team.
Exemptions
We may exempt drivers from certain requirements if we feel it is appropriate.
Some requirements apply automatically to an applicant, and some an applicant/licensee will have to apply for either when submitting an application or during the life of their licence.
Wearing a Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) driver badge
All private hire drivers are required to wear their driver badge during private hire duties.
There are exemptions from doing so if:
- Wearing a badge presents a specific risk
- The passenger requests that the driver refrain from wearing a badge
Carrying guide/assistance dogs
Taxi and PHV drivers must carry guide, hearing and other assistance dogs accompanying disabled people without any additional charge. Drivers can ask for an exemption from this, but only on medical grounds.
Assisting wheelchair users
If we have designated a taxi or PHV as wheelchair accessible, drivers must provide physical assistance to passengers in wheelchairs without any additional charge. We can exempt a driver from these duties on:
- Medical grounds, or
- On the grounds that a physical condition makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult for a driver to comply with the duties
Topographical skills assessment
Private hire applicants are required to undertake a topographical skills assessment as part of their application. However, the following applicants may be exempt if they are:
- Previously licensed PHV drivers who have passed a topographical skills test
- Licensed London taxi drivers – All London and Suburban
- Professional London tourists guides (eg Blue Badge Driver Guide)
- An individual who can provide TPH with evidence of a relevant vocational qualification in passenger transport (eg NVQ or equivalent)
Convictions and exemptions
Disclosure and Barring service check
If you have completed a enhanced disclosure including both barred lists under the workforce code of ‘Other’ in a relevant occupation, in the last four months, you are exempt for requiring a further check.
Medical
Applicants are exempt from completing a medical form as part of their application if they:
- Hold a DVLA Group 2 licence (full or a provisional licence issued since January 1998)
- Have an active application with us, have completed our medical and are under the age of 45
Active applicants or existing licensees must have a medical exam if over the age of 45 and the last medical was done more than three years ago, or you’re subject to providing an age-related medical.
To apply for any of the above exemptions please email us stating the exemption you wish to apply for. We will email you the correct form.
Convictions
If you have any of the following convictions, it’s unlikely that your application will be successful. Before submitting an application, please consider:
- Any conviction for a major violent offence (murder, manslaughter etc)
- Whether you have more than one conviction of any type of violent offence in the last 10 years
- If you are still serving a custodial sentence, even if you have been released early on licence or the sentence was suspended
- If you have been convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for a serious sexual offence (rape, indecent assault, trafficking, possession of indecent images etc)
- Whether you have been convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for more than one sexual offence of any type, irrespective of age
- Whether you are listed on either the Children’s or Adults’ barred list
- If you have been convicted, cautioned or subjected to any other penalty for touting in the last 12 months or have more than one penalty for touting in the last five years
- This list is not exhaustive.
