Apply for a Hackney Carriage taxi driver licence

Before Proceeding, Please Read:

1. Taxi and private hire: Licensing policy and guidance
2. Our Criminal Convictions Policy

The minimum Qualification Criteria

• The Applicant must hold a valid full UK driving licence for a minimum of 12 months.
• If an applicant has lived or stayed outside the UK for a continuous period of 6 months or more, a certificate of good conduct from the relevant embassy will be required. This must either be in English or translated by an approved translator at the applicant’s expense.
• Applicants must have a reasonably adequate standard of spoken English This will be assessed throughout the application process and during the knowledge test.
• Have proof of the Right to Work in the UK

Please contact licensing@horsham.gov.uk to arrange an appointment to initiate an Enhanced DBS application, for which we will require the following:

1. A Payment of £49.50 by Debit or Credit Card.
2. An in-date Passport of any Nationality, or a Birth Certificate
3. DVLA issued Driving Licence
4. An Original Utility Bill or Bank Statement, issued within the last 3 months
5. A valid Right-to-Work Code

Other acceptable Documents

At the appointment you will be asked to sign Mandates giving the council permission to view  advised of the actions needed and given guidance about registering for the Mandatory update Service, which must be completed 28 days of being issued your enhanced certificate.

All applicants must undergo a medical examination, to be completed by a GMC registered doctor and completed within the last 3 months to assess their fitness to work as a Hackney Carriage / Private Hire Driver; a Group 2 medical will be required, as per Department of Transport Guidance

A Medical form can be downloaded below or requested by emailing licensing@horsham.gov.uk

• Pass the Taxi Safeguarding Course, supplied online by The Blue Lamp Trust or by West Sussex County Council.
• Pass HDC Taxi/Private hire driving assessment test.
• Pass a Disability Awareness Course, supplied online by The Blue Lamp Trust.
• Provide a Tax Check Code. ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence
• Where applicable submit a Right to work Check Code. https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work/get-a-share-code-online

Find the New Application PDF download below or email licensing@horsham.gov.uk to request an application form to be sent to you.

Please beware that any application form received that is incomplete, will be rejected.

Once we have corresponded with you that your application has been completed correctly and that the appropriate documentation supplied, we will send you a payment link for the fee to sit your Conditions/Bylaws and Knowledge Test.

Click here for Hackney Carriage Byelaws 

Once paid, we would ask you to email licensing@horsham.gov.uk to arrange an appointment to sit the next available test. The written exam will be held at the Council Offices once a Month and will last approximately 1 hour. The test results will be communicated with you at our earliest opportunity.

Should the applicant fail the first test, further opportunities will be offered, each subsequent test also will incur a fee.

Further information to help you prepare for the test can be found via the council website

Once confirmation has been received, confirming to that the Tests have been passed, please email licensing@horsham.gov.uk to arrange an appointment to bring to the Council Offices the following original documents for Inspection:

1. Enhanced DBS certificate
2. Certificate of good conduct (where applicable)
3. DSA Assessment certificate.

Once Payment has been received, you will be sent a link to complete and return a Mandate for DVLA checks to be made on your driving Licence.

After successfully completing all the above, a payment link will be sent to you, for you pay the appropriate Licence fee.

After all our final checks have been made, which may take few days, please be patient and wait until we contact you to arrange either the Collection or the Posting of your Drivers badge and your paper Licence (counterpart) document.

A Hackney Carriage  Driver Licence is valid for a period of 3 years and must be renewed upon expiry.

Find the Renewal Application PDF download below or email licensing@horsham.gov.uk to request an application form to be sent to you.

Please beware that any application form received that is incomplete, will be rejected.

Ensure that you include:-

• Tax Check Code: ttps://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence
• 10 Digit DBS Update Service Reference

Your application will not be accepted without all appropriate documentation (Please do not submit originals)

• DVLA / Equivalent Driving Licence – Images of both Front & Back of Licence Must be in the name of the applicant
• Right to work document – passport, birth certificate or share code https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work/get-a-share-code-online
• Photograph – Passport or digital passport style Must be recent photos
• Proof of address issued within the last 3 months – Bank statement or utility bill (we do not accept credit card statements or mobile phone bills)

After successfully completing all the above, a payment link will be sent to you, for you pay the appropriate Licence fee.

After all our final checks have been made, which may take few days, please be patient and wait until we contact you to arrange either the Collection or the Posting of your Drivers badge and your paper Licence (counterpart) document.

A Hackney Carriage Driver Licence is valid for a period of 3 years and must be renewed upon expiry.