Become a Taxi Driver

This page is for new applicants - that is, someone who has allowed their licence to lapse or has never held a licence with Huntingdonshire District Council.

If you are renewing a licence that is currently valid, please go to the driver renewal page.

How do I apply to be a taxi or private hire driver?

To drive a taxi or private hire vehicle you must:

• be at least 18 years old

• have held a full driving licence for at least 12 months

• have the right to work in the UK

• be able to understand and speak English.

Before you submit your application

Before you submit your licence application you must complete all the points listed below and have the appropriate documentation:

• take and pass our knowledge and competency test [PDF#KNOWLEDGE, 0.2MB]
• Blue Lamp Trust taxi safeguarding course and High Speed Training safeguarding training for taxi drivers 
• complete and pass the driving assessment
• complete a Group 2 medical with a GP
• undertake a Disclosure and Barring criminal records check
• prove you have the right to work in the UK
• complete a DVLA check code

Knowledge and competency test

All new applicants are required to pass our knowledge and competency test before you commence with any other part of the application process, including DBS, medical and driving assessment.

The test is a multiple-choice test covering all of the Huntingdonshire district area. Areas covered in the test are:

• points of interest such as tourist points, surgeries, schools, restaurants etc
• basic maths
• Highway Code
• licensing conditions
• understanding written instructions.

The test lasts 30 minutes.

The knowledge test application form [PDF, 0.2MB] must be fully completed before a test date can be booked.

Tests can be booked by emailing the licensing team. An officer will then contact you via email to arrange an appointment to come in and take the test.

The fee for taking the test is £55

You will need to bring your driving licence and passport. If you do not hold a valid passport, other documents we can accept are a British birth certificate or biometric residence permit.

Driver assessment

Our approved assessor is Blue Lamp Trust. You can book a test online or by calling 03337 000157 between 9am and 4pm.

Make sure you have read the Policy and Conditions [PDF, 0.4MB] and the Conditions Specific to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers [PDF, 0.1MB] relating to taxi and private hire licences.

Medical assessment

Complete a Group 2 medical examination to ensure you are fit to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle. You will have to pay the fee for the medical directly to the GP. 

Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Check

Obtain an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Records Check. You can apply for this online - view further information and instructions. If you have a conviction, caution, reprimand or warning that you think may affect your application, please read our convictions policy [PDF, 0.2MB]. You can also contact the Licensing team for confidential advice. 

If you have a suitable Enhanced DBS certificate registered with the DBS update service you must provide the original certificate and complete the consent form [PDF, size unavailable] to allow us to check the online records. If you are not signed up to the update service you will need to undertake the online enhanced check.

If you have not been living in the UK continuously during the last five years, you are required to obtain a statement of good conduct (also known as a certificate of good character) before your application can be submitted. The statement must be in English and be provided by relevant Embassy or police force in the country where you lived/worked. You must arrange, supply and pay for the statement.

Right to work in the UK

You must be able to prove you have the right to work in the UK. The Immigration Act 2016 requires us to check the status of all new applicants. View details of documents required as proof.

DVLA check code

We will check the status of your current driving licence as part of your application. Please visit this page to get a code for us to check your licence.

You must do this no more than 2 weeks before submitting your application.

Safeguarding training

You are required to undertake our approved safeguarding course before a licence is granted. Details of the 2 approved courses are :-

Blue Lamp Trust taxi safeguarding course and High Speed Training Safeguarding training for taxi drivers.

Knowledge and competency test

All new applicants will be required to pass our knowledge and competency test before an application can be submitted. We will provide further details about this test shortly.

Submitting your application and verification of identification documents

First complete the application form [PDF, 0.8MB]

You must then visit our Customer Service Centre at Pathfinder House, Huntingdon, to submit your application and have your identification documents verified for your online DBS application. You can visit anytime between 9am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. When you arrive, take a ticket from the machine and take a seat.

You must make sure you bring originals of all the correct documentation. We will only accept correctly completed applications.

Checklists 

Fees

Please see the Fees page.

Does tacit consent apply?

No. For public safety reasons we must process your application before it can be granted.