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Apply for a New Driver, Operator or Vehicle Licence

In this section

  1. Guidance for Taxi and Private Hire passengers
  2. Taxi and Private Hire Policy
  3. Apply for a New Driver, Operator or Vehicle Licence
  4. Vehicle changes and transfers
  5. Renewing your licence
  6. Taxi Safeguarding and Equalities Training
  7. Tax Conditionality Check
  8. Enhanced DBS Checks
  9. National Register of Taxi Licence Revocations, Suspensions and Refusals (NR3)
  10. Taxi and Private Hire Licence Fees 1st April 2025 to 31st March 2026
  11. Taxi and Private Hire Licence Fees - Notice of Increase in Stroud District Taxi and Private Hire Licence Fees - from 1st April 2025
  12. Taxi Fares
  13. Taxi Newsletters
  14. Safety Tips for Taxi and Private Hire Drivers

You can apply to become a taxi driver if you’re over 18 years old and you’ve held a full DVLA driving licence for at least 12 months.

New driver Information

If you would like to become a taxi or private hire driver please see the below information about how to apply and the application process. You should read the Common Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing in Gloucestershire and Stroud's Taxi and Private Hire Policies before submitting your application.

Criminal and driving convictions

If you’ve got a criminal conviction or DVLA points you should read the Convictions Policy in the Common Licensing Standards for Licensing hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers before applying. As part of the application process you will need to apply for an Enhanced DBS check. if the DBS enhanced Certificate shows any convictions we will consider them in line with our Convictions Policy in the Common Licensing Standards document.  

If you have lived outside of England, Wales, or the Republic of Ireland, for more than 6 months, you will need to provide extra documentation so that we can check to see if you have any convictions in another Country that will not show on the Enhanced DBS.

National Register of Taxi Licence Revocations and Refusals (NR3)

Stroud District Council has signed up to the National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations (NR3). From 1st April 2020 Officers will use the register to check all new and renewal driver applications to establish whether they have had a licence revoked or an application refused by another authority. For more information please click here. 

Tax Conditionality Checks

From 4 April 2022, the rules changed when applying for taxi and private hire drivers licence. For information about tax conditionality checks please click here.

You will not need to complete a tax check if you have:

  • never held a licence of the same type before
  • had a licence of the same type that ceased to be valid a year or more before making this application

However, you must ensure that you have read the tax responsibilities guidance by signing the declaration on the new driver application form.

Application Process

Application Step 1

In the first instance we ask you to email the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk 

This will enable us to see what it is that you are applying for and allow us to answer any queries that you may have about the application process. 

Please do not move onto Step 2 of the application process until Step 1 is complete and we have advised you to do so. 

Application Step 2 

For Step two of the application we ask you to email the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk

  • Apply for an Enhanced DBS check  (If you are already registered with the DBS update Service, provide us your Enhanced DBS Certificate so we can check if it meets our criteria)  Please click here for more information and the link to apply for an Enhanced DBS check. Once you have done this you will be provided with a reference number, you will need to email this reference number to the licensing team. 
  • Three forms of I.D. for your new Enhanced DBS check (a full list of acceptable documents can be found here)
  • Proof of your Right to Licence in the UK - Click here for a full list of acceptable documents. And for further information about this check please see our Right to Licence Fact Sheet.
  • English Proficiency Evidence - You must provide an appropriate educational certificate for a qualification related to English. Acceptable qualifications may include a GCSE (or equivalent) in a subject such as English language or literature, a degree in a subject containing substantial English content, or an NVQ or BTEC in a subject that requires its students to communicate well in English. If you are unable to provide an appropriate education certificate you must pass an English Proficiency Test through an approved assessor. Click here for further information.
  • Additional Application Requirements for Persons That Have Resided Outside of England, Wales and Republic of Ireland
    If you have resided, for a period of 6 months or more, outside of England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland, since over the age of 18 you must provide the following:
    • DBS Enhanced Criminal Record Disclosure Certificate as detailed above (unless you have only just arrived in this country). 
    • Criminal record check or certificate of good conduct from all countries outside of England, Wales and the Republic of Ireland you have resided in from the age of 18 for 6 months or more. This certificate must be an original and, if in a foreign 
    language, must be accompanied by an original certified translation from a sworn translator. Any costs involved in such certificates and translations must be paid by 
    you.
  • Pay £61.50 online for the Enhanced DBS application

Application Step 3

Once Step 2 of the application process is complete and you have received your DBS certificate through the post you will need to contact the licensing team at licensing@stroud.gov.uk, to arrange an appointment at the council offices at Ebley Mill. You will need to bring your original Right to Work document and your DBS certificate to this appointment for us to see in person. 

If you have been unable to provide an appropriate education certificate to evidence your English Proficiency we will also arrange for the English Proficiency Test to be carried out at this appointment. Please do not book the test without speaking to a member of the licensing team first. 

Application Step 4

Once you have completed Step 3 of the application and we have told you we are satisfied that there are no relevant convictions on your DBS certificate or DVLA record you can move onto Step 2.

You will need to email the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk;

  • Photo - this will need to be a clear photo of yourself against a plain background
  • Driver Assessment Certificate - please click here for a list of our approved providers
  • Completed medical form  This must be completed by your own GP or a suitably qualified medical practitioner that has been provided with a Summary Medical Record obtained by you from your GP. The Summary Medical Record should be no more than two months old at the time that it is provided to the medical practitioner undertaking the medical.
  • Safeguarding and Equalities Training Certificate - please click here for training dates and details about how to book
  • Application Fee

Application Step 5

** Hackney Carriage applicants ONLY**
  • Knowledge test - for further information about the test please click here.

Application Step 6 - Granting of the licence

Once all of the above has been completed to a satisfactory level the Licensing Team will issue your licence. We will email you your licence and an Interim Authority Notice. You will need to keep the Interim Authorisation Notice within the vehicle at all times for members of the public and the police to view in the absence of your badges.

Your badges will then be posted out to you at our earliest convenience. When you receive your badges you must remember that when you are working, you must wear one badge on your person so that it is plainly visible to the public, and display the second badge on the passenger side front dash board of the vehicle

You need an operators licence if you want to operate licensed private hire vehicles driven by licensed private hire drivers.

If you want to apply for an Operator Licence you should first read the Taxi and private hire information for new applicants and the Common Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing in Gloucestershire and Stroud's Taxi and Private Hire Policies before submitting your application.

Tax Conditionality Checks

From 4 April 2022, the rules changed when applying for taxi and private hire drivers licence. For information about tax conditionality checks please click here.

You will not need to complete a tax check if you have:

  • never held a licence of the same type before
  • had a licence of the same type that ceased to be valid a year or more before making this application

However, you must ensure that you have read the tax responsibilities guidance by signing the declaration on the new driver application form.

Apply for an Operator Licence

To apply for a new Operator Licence you will need to send the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk;

Pay new operator licence - 1 year

Pay new operator licence - 5 year

Before applying for a new vehicle licence you should read the Taxi and private hire information for new applicants and the Common Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing in Gloucestershire and Stroud's Taxi and Private Hire Policies before submitting your application.

Vehicle Age Criteria

A new application for a taxi or private hire vehicle licence will be refused if a vehicle is more than 7 years old from the date of first registration.  Wheelchair accessible vehicles are exempt from the above age policy but must be Euro 6 compliant.  Electric Vehicles and Ultra Low Emission Vehicles ( normally plug in hybrids) are exempt from the age policy.

 

Apply for a new vehicle licence

To apply for a new vehicle licence you will need to send the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk;

  • Application form
  • A valid Certificate of Insurance
  • MOT Certificate (if more than 1 year old)
  • V5 Registration Certificate
  • Meter Certificate
  • Council Test (from an authorised garage)
  • Fee - you can find a list of fees here
  • You will also need to send us some photos of the interior and exterior of the vehicle. Please note that you may also be required to bring the vehicle to Ebley Mill for a member of the Licensing Team to inspect.

Payment 

You need to pay for a new vehicle application which includes the plate and in addition you must pay a refundable plate deposit.

The links to make the two payments are below:

Hackney Carriage 

Hackney Carriage New Vehicle Application Fee

Hackney Carriage Plate Deposit

Private Hire

Private Hire New Vehicle Application Fee

Private Hire Plate Deposit

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Licensed vehicles that are able to carry at least one wheelchair with the passenger remaining seated in that wheelchair, should the passenger wish to, will be 'designated' under Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010. Drivers of these vehicles, unless they hold a valid Medical Exemption, must ensure that they comply with the following duties:

  • To carry the passenger whilst in the wheelchair,
  • Not to make any additional charge for doing so,
  • If the person chooses to sit in a passenger seat, to carry the wheelchair,
  • To take such steps as are reasonably necessary to ensure the passenger is carried in safety and reasonable comfort; and
  • To give the passenger such mobility assistance as is reasonably required.

A driver of a ‘designated’ vehicle commits an offence if they fail to comply with the above duties. If a driver is prosecuted for this offence they could be subject to a fine not exceeding £1,000.

A driver can apply for a Medical Exemption Certificate if they are unable to comply with the above duties for medical reasons or because their physical condition makes it impossible to comply. If you wish to apply for a Medical Exemption Certificate you will need to contact the Licensing Section.

 

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