Hackney carriage driver's licence

The available letter explains the process of applying for a hackney carriage driver's licence along with the relevant application form.

Enquiry Letter (TX1) - Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver (v10) (PDF) [115KB]

Application Form T1 - Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence (v10) (Word doc) [50KB]

Prior to applying for a licence, we strongly recommend that all applicants refer to the relevant, conditions and policies adopted by Chichester District Council (the 'council').  Please see Hackney carriage and private hire policy for further details.

Applicants must provide evidence of their suitability to act as a hackney carriage driver. In order for us to process an application we require the following:

• Knowledge test
• Awareness of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)
• Driving history
• Right to work in the UK
• Certificate of Good Conduct
• DBS Criminal Records Check
• Medical status
• DVLA Driving Licence Check - DAVIS
• Driving proficiency test
• Wheelchair Assessment

Knowledge test

Applicants are required to pass our Knowledge Test. By passing the test it will demonstrate that the applicant has a suitable level of knowledge to provide a professional and safe service to customers.

We have a number of dates available to undertake the Knowledge Test, therefore please contact the Licensing Team to reserve a place using the details below. The test costs £48.50 and a retest is £23.50. We would ask that the appropriate fee is paid by card via our Customer Services Team.

Information about the Knowledge Test is available below which includes material that we strongly recommend is read and revised.

Knowledge Test - Guidance Document (v5) (Word doc) [79KB]

Prevention of CSE - WSCC Handbook for HC and PH Drivers (PDF) [222KB]

TfL Guidance - Assistance Dogs (PDF) [4MB]

TfL Guidance - Disability Awareness (PDF) [716KB]

Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE)

As a licensed driver with Chichester District Council you may come into contact with children or young people at risk of Child Sexual Exploitation (CSE).

Please visit the West Sussex Safeguarding Children Board (opens new window) site which gives you more information on CSE and how to identify the warning signs of a child or young person at risk, there are also some useful contacts should you come across any situation that is of concern to you.

Driving history

Applicants must be 21 years of age or over and have held a current driving licence issued by the Drivers and Vehicle Licensing Agency (opens new window) (DVLA) for at least 12 months.

Right to work in the UK

The Immigration Act 2016 has made amendments to the licensing regime. The council is now required to undertake a face-to-face immigration check in relation to all applicants to ensure the person has the right to work in the UK. Without satisfactory evidence, the council cannot validate an application or issue a licence. In order to satisfy this requirement, certain documents must be provided. In most cases a current UK or EU passport or Biometric Residence Permit will normally be satisfactory. Details of the exact documents that can be accepted are listed in the guide sheet available. An applicant may also need to meet with a member of the Licensing Team.

Immigration Check - List of acceptable documents to prove right to work in the UK (PDF) [194KB]

Under certain circumstances where the immigration status of an applicant is not obvious, the applicant's right to work in the UK will be checked and information shared with the Home Office.

If there are restrictions on the length of time an applicant may work in the UK, a licence cannot be issued for any longer than that period. In such circumstances the check will be repeated each time the licence holder seeks to renew or extend the licence. If during this period the holder is disqualified from holding a licence because they have not complied with the UK's immigration laws, the licence will lapse and it must be returned to the council. Failure to do so is a criminal offence.

Further information can be obtained from the UK Border Agency (opens new window)site.

Certificate of good conduct

Where an applicant has been residing in the UK for less than 5 years at the time of making their application, then they will be required to obtain a 'Certificate of Good Conduct' from the Embassy in whose country or countries they resided.  This document must be a certified translation if the original certificate issued by the embassy(s) is not in English.

An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Records Check or equivalent

Applicants are required to provide evidence of their criminal history using the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) application form (criminal records check). Please see DBS enhanced disclosure (criminal records check) for further details.

Medical status

Applicants must be medically assessed by their doctor or medical practitioner at the surgery where they are registered using the DVLA medical examination report (Form D4). All applicants are required to meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standard and the doctor will also need to complete a declaration (Form T14) in order to confirm this. Applicants are required to undergo these checks in order that we can be satisfied that they are fit to drive.

Please Note- Although the Gov.uk website states that the D4 Form is for a lorry or bus driving licence, this is the correct Form for Taxi licences.

If an applicant has any questions about a medical condition that may affect their suitability, please contact the Licensing Team to discuss. The DVLA website (opens new window) provides further information.

Declaration by Medical Practitioner (Form T14) (Word doc) [35KB]

DVLA driving licence check - DAVIS

In order to verify an applicant's driving licence record, we contract with a third party called Licence Checks Ltd T/A DAVIS who will check your current licence via the DVLA database. In order to do the check we will need to scan your photo card, if you don`t have a recently issued photo card then please contact us for further advice.

Driving proficiency test

In order to satisfy the council that an applicant is competent to drive at the standard required, applicants are required to successfully pass a driving proficiency test before submitting a valid application to the council.

Applicants may wish to seek guidance from an approved driving instructor prior to taking the test.  For details regarding the test and recognised providers please see our 'Driving Proficiency Test & Wheelchair Assessment - Applicant Guidance' document.

Driving Proficiency Test & Wheelchair Assessment - Applicant Guidance (PDF) [221KB]

Wheelchair assessment test

All applicants for a hackney carriage or dual driver's licence (a 'dual' licence allows the holder to drive both a hackney carriage and private hire vehicle) are required to pass a wheelchair assessment test. Further, applicants seeking a private hire driver's licence but whom wish to drive a wheelchair accessible private hire vehicle, will also be required to pass the test.

The purpose of the wheelchair assessment is to test whether applicants can:

• safely load and unload a wheelchair into a vehicle;
• use the wheelchair brakes to secure and release it;
• fasten the seat belts or safety harness; and
• secure any wheel belts or clamps fitted to the vehicle.

The 'Blue Lamp Trust' (opens new window) is currently recognised by this council as a provider of a suitable wheelchair assessment test.  Full details regarding the course are available from the Blue Lamp Trust website. Please note that whilst the Blue Lamp Trust will provide a wheelchair, you will be required to provide a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Renew a hackney carriage driver's licence

A Hackney Carriage and/or Private Hire Driver's Licence is issued for 3 years. You will receive a reminder letter approx. 6 weeks prior to the date the licence is due to expire.

If you do not wish to renew the licence(s), please ensure that the current badge(s) are returned to this Authority within 7 days of the date of expiry.

If you wish to renew the licence, then you must do so by the required time, otherwise the licence(s) will lapse and you will immediately have to cease driving any Hackney Carriage/Private Hire vehicle until such time as a new application has been made and licence granted. Where a renewal application is submitted less than 5 working days prior to the date of expiry, then this Licensing Authority (the 'Authority') may not be able to process the application and re-issue the licence(s) and badge(s) before the expiry of the existing badge(s). It is therefore strongly recommended that a renewal application is submitted at the earliest opportunity.

When submitting a renewal application, please read the TX4 reminder letter and complete Application Form T4 below. 

Renewal Form T4 - Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Licence (v12) (Word doc) [35KB]

Renewal Letter TX4 - Driver's Licence (v12) (Word doc) [57KB]

• DBS Criminal Records Check
• Medical status
• DVLA driving licence check - DAVIS
• Right to work in the UK - renewal

An Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Records Check or equivalent

Every 3 years an up to date enhanced criminal records check must be provided as part of a renewal application. The DBS application form can be obtained from the Licensing Team or from the DBS. Please see the web page DBS enhanced disclosure (Criminal Records Check for further details.

Medical status

All drivers are required to undergo a medical check every 5 years, or every year if over the age of 65, to ensure that the licence holder is still physically fit to drive passengers.

The medical assessment must be conducted by a doctor or medical practitioner at the surgery where you are registered using the DVLA medical examination report (opens new window) (Form D4). All applicants are required to meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standard and the doctor will also need to complete a declaration (Form T14) to this effect.

Declaration by Medical Practitioner (Form T14) (Word doc) [35KB]

If you have any questions about a medical condition that may affect your suitability, please contact the Licensing Team first where you can have a confidential discussion prior to paying for the medical. Alternatively visit the DVLA (opens new window) website for further information.

DVLA Driving Licence Check - DAVIS

Each year, on renewal, a small charge will be levied to pay for us to check DVLA records. In order to verify an applicant's driving licence record, we contract with a third party called Licence Checks Ltd T/A DAVIS who will check your current licence via the DVLA database. In order to do the check we will need to scan your photo card, if you don`t have a recently issued photo card then please contact us for further advice.