Step 1 – Read the new private hire operator guidance

Private Hire

Private hire is providing a vehicle with a driver to take a person on a journey for a reward.

Pre- booked only

Under private hire rules the journey must be booked in advance and cannot be an immediate hire from a rank or other place and cannot be booked direct through the driver.

Bookings can be for any journey in UK

A private hire operator can accept bookings for journeys starting and ending anywhere within the UK.

Triple Licence rule

An operator’s licence allows you to operate licensed private hire vehicles driven by licensed private hire drivers. The operator, vehicle and driver licence must be issued by the same authority.  

Operating Address

 You will need to have an operating address within Stroud District in order to apply for a private hire operator licence from Stroud District Council

Right to licence 

You will need to provide documentation that shows you have the right to work in the UK. If you are a company we will need right to work documents for all Directors – See here for more information.

Basic DBS Certificate 

You will need to provide a basic DBS Certificate, that is not more than one month old, so we can check your criminal record. If you are a company, we will need basic DBS certificates for all directors. If, or any other directors, already have an Enhanced DBS Certificate for taxi or private hire work, and you are on the DBS update Service, we can accept this Certificate. 

Stroud District Council Policies

View our taxi and private hire policies 

One or five year licence

You can apply for a one year or a five year licence

Making an application

You should make your application using the steps on our webpage. This will start with you completing the online forms and uploading initial documents.  We then will undertake Criminal Convictions and right to work checks. Here is a summary of documents you will need to provide during your application process.

• Right to licence documentation (if a company for all directors)
• Basic DBS Certificate (if a company for all directors)
• Tax Conditionality Check – if you have worked previously as an operator you will need to provide a tax check code. This includes if you are currently already licensed as a private hire operator with another authority or you previous held an operator licence with Stroud District Council within the last twelve months. Information about tax conditionality checks.
• Payment, you will have the option to pay for a one or five year licence – list of fees and charges