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Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licences

The Royal Borough is responsible for the licensing of Hackney Carriage drivers and vehicles, and the licensing of private hire vehicles, drivers and operators. Before completing and returing the application forms below, please read the following information carefully.

Failure to provide the correct documentation may cause a delay to your application.

Every applicant must have a valid Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure (CRB). An application for a Disclosure can be obtained from the Licensing Section. When you make an appointment to return your application form, please bring the CRB form with you. Do not sent this form to the CRB yourself as it has to be checked carefully and submitted by the Council. Please bring with you one of the documents referred to in Section X of the form [passport, driving licence, birth certificate or marriage certificate]. In addition, you must bring two of the documents showing your current address [eg, bank statement, rent book, building society book etc]. The form and accompanying documents will be checked by a member of the Licensing Section and then countersigned by the Enforcement Manager. Do not forget to bring a cheque for £36.00 made payable to RBWM which is specifically for the Disclosure service.
Make sure that your Licence Application form is properly completed and that you bring it to the Town Hall when you bring in your CRB form. Please ensure that the form is countersigned by the Operator of the firm where you intend to work or the application will not be processed. Bring your DVLA Driving Licence at this stage so it can be checked.
Every applicant will be required to take a test based on the Licence conditions which are included with the pack. Please read carefully the explanatory notes or the Conditions of Private Hire Vehicles and Driver Licences which you can download below as you will be tested on them. In addition, anyone who applies for a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence will have to take a Route Test based on knowledge of the area where the driver intends to work. Once you have completed and returned all of the forms, and once the CRB Disclosure has been completed, you should contact the Licencing Office to make an appointment to do your test.
The test for Private Hire applicants consists of 13 questions based on the Terms and Conditions (which can be downloaded from the link below). The test will last for approximately 20 minutes. For those applying for Hackney Carriage Drivers' Licences, the test consists of 18 questions lasting approximately 20 - 25 minutes. The additional Route Test will take approximately 30 minutes.
When you come for the test, you should bring with you:
- Two forms of identity, (eg passport, telephone bill, utility bill, NHS medical card
- A medical certificate (this must be signed and dated by your own doctor)
- Two passport photographs
- DVLA Driving Licence (for Photocard Licences, please bring both the photocard and paper counterpart)
- The fee of £95.00

If you successfully pass your test and have successfully completed all the necessary documentation, then a Licence can be issued immediately. This is subject to you satisfying the Council that you are a "fit and proper person". The Council will use the results of the Criminal Records Disclosure as well as the information contained on your DVLA Licence when making this assessment.