Apply for a taxi licence Hackney carriage/private hire driver licence – new application
Application process
In order for your application to be accepted, the application form must be fully completed and include all relevant information, supporting documentation and appropriate fee.
If any part of the application is incomplete, you'll be requested to provide the missing information, and the application won't be processed until such time as all required information, documentation or fee is provided. If you fail to provide all the information to complete the application, the application will be rejected.
Pay for this application online
The full fee for the licence is payable at the time the application is submitted.
Please note that if you're subscribed to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Update Service with an enhanced DBS certificate that shows ‘Other Workforce, Taxi/Private Hire Driver’, you need to pay the application fee excluding the DBS. In all other cases you'll need to pay the fee that includes the DBS.
If you're unable to pay for your application online, please contact the Licensing Team using the contact details at the bottom of this page.
What will I need before I apply?
In order for your application to be accepted you must ensure that you send in the following information:
- Completed application form. Within the application form you'll need to include:
1. A DVLA online check code. Details on creating a check code can be found on the DVLA website. Please note that the check code will only remain valid for 21 days, so please forward your completed application to us as soon as possible
2. If applicable, a tax registration check code. Details on creating a tax check code can be found on the Gov.UK website
- A copy of the receipt for payment of the application fee. Payments can be made online
- One passport-sized photograph taken within the last three months that shows a true likeness
- If you're subscribed to the DBS Update Service, a copy of your enhanced DBS certificate which is linked to your DBS Update Service subscription that shows it was completed under 'Other Workforce, Taxi/Private Hire Driver'
- If you're subscribed to the DBS Update Service, you'll need to complete and return the DBS Update Service consent form using the details from your enhanced DBS certificate
Your completed application form and supporting documents should be submitted to the Licensing Team by email to taxis@shropshire.gov.uk
What happens next?
Once your application has been validated and accepted, we'll contact you by email with details of the relevant appointments as listed below. It's important that you check your emails (including your spam/junk folders) to ensure that you don't miss any appointments:
- Where a DBS check is required, we'll contact you with details on how to complete a DBS application. For part one of the DBS application process, you'll receive an email from noreply@employmentcheck.org.uk - this email will contain details on how to complete the first part of the DBS application online.
For the second part of the process, you'll be required to attend an appointment with proof of identity documents before the DBS application can be submitted. This will be a face-to-face appointment - We'll contact you with details of how to complete a right to work check. Your right to work in the UK will be checked as part of your licence application; this could include checking your immigration status with the Home Office. This will be a face-to-face appointment
- We'll contact you with details of your booking to attend the road safety and ability test (driving assessment). This will be a face-to-face appointment
- We'll contact you with details of your booking to attend the driver awareness course, which includes the knowledge test. This course will be held on Microsoft Teams
- We'll contact you with details of your booking to attend our safeguarding and disability awareness course. This course will be held on Microsoft Teams
Where a DBS application has been submitted, you'll need to subscribe to the DBS Update Service within 30 calendar days of the DBS certificate being issued. Information on how to subscribe to the DBS Update Service can be found on the Gov.UK website.
You'll also need to submit a group 2 medical form completed by your own GP or a doctor who has had full access to your medical records. The medical form doesn't need to be supplied at the time of submitting your application. However, it will need to be received before your application can be determined. You're responsible for paying the medical fee direct to the medical practitioner.
In addition, we will:
- Make enquiries through our adults and children’s social care teams, West Mercia Police (or other relevant force), other local authorities and any other organisation, agency or person that the council has deemed appropriate to seek information from
- Complete an online DVLA driving licence check
- Where applicable, complete an online DBS Update Service check
- Make enquiries through the national register for hackney carriage and private hire licence revocations, refusals and suspensions (NR3S)
- Where applicable, complete an online tax registration check
The results of all the checks will help us to determine whether, applying the council’s policy, an applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person. If all the checks have been completed and we're satisfied that an applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person, a licence will be granted. In all other cases, the application will be referred to the licensing panel for determination. You would be notified in writing if your application is to be determined by the panel.
If my application is successful, what happens next?
Once an application has been granted, you'll be licensed to drive hackney carriage and/or private hire vehicles that have been issued a licence by us.
Your licence pack will contain the paper version of the licence, and the conditions attached to the licence. You're advised to read the conditions carefully to ensure compliance at all times.
In addition, you'll be issued with two badges. One badge has a lanyard and badge holder and must be worn around the neck, ensuring that your photograph and licence details are visible. The second badge is marked ‘Vehicle Copy’ and must be displayed in the adhesive holder on the inside of the windscreen of any licensed vehicle you drive, facing inwards so that it's visible at all times to passengers.