You must hold a driver licence issued by Norwich City Council to drive a licensed hackney carriage or private hire vehicle in Norwich. The council is responsible for ensuring applicants are safe and suitable to hold licences to transport members of the public.
Who can apply
You can apply for a driver licence if you:
- are over 18 years old
- have held a full driving licence for 12 months.
We need to make sure that you are suitable to hold a driver licence by checking your medical history, criminal conduct, motoring convictions, right to work in the UK and any other relevant information.
Please read the guidance on determining suitability to check the likelihood of you getting a licence before you apply.
To apply for a licence you will need to:
- pass a driving assessment
- pass a wheelchair assessment (hackney carriages only)
- attend a safeguarding training course which we will book you on to
- provide a copy of your Knowledge Test certificate
- confirm your right to work in the UK as a hackney carriage or private hire driver
- complete a tax check with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you are:
- renewing a licence
- applying for the same type of licence you previously held, that ceased being valid less than a year ago
- applying for the same type of licence you already hold with another licensing authority.
You will need to set up a Government Gateway user ID and password and complete a tax check and obtain the tax check code to give to us.
Please note, we only receive confirmation that you have completed the check with HMRC and we do not have access to information about your tax affairs.
Driving assessment
Before you apply for a licence you will need to take an approved driving assessment which you arrange yourself. Where you can take your test.
How to apply
Please do not complete the online application form until you have all your supporting documentation ready.
To apply for a licence you will need to complete the online application form including uploading documents and book an appointment with us to bring in the supporting documents.
Follow the steps 1 to 7 below to ensure you provide us with the correct documentation, otherwise we cannot accept your application.
1. Download and complete the Medical certificate questionnaire
2. Ask the doctor with access to your medical records to complete the medical certificate questionnaire within one month of you applying for your licence.
3. Provide a passport size photograph of yourself taken within three months of you applying.
4. Ensure your DVLA driver licence (photo card) is in date and shows your current address.
5. You will need two forms of identification e.g. passport and utility bill (for gas, electric or telephone showing your current address). See what other documents can be accepted.
6. As part of your driver licence application, we require an enhanced criminal record check certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) including a check of both the Adults and Children Barred Lists
You can apply for this though Taxi Plus website which includes online ID verification.
Completing your DBS check application with Taxi Plus means it is submitted faster, the check is carried out quicker and a licence decision can be obtained sooner.
If you register for the DBS update service, we can check your certificate status online in the future without having to apply for a new check. Find out more about the DBS update service on GOV.UK.
You will need your original DBS certificate if you have already subscribed to the DBS update service.
7. Provide one item of evidence of your National Insurance number so that we can perform a search on the National register of taxi licence refusals and revocations examples below:
- P45 or P60.
- Bank statements showing payments by direct debit for Class 2 National Insurance contributions or receipt of state benefits.
- Pay slips or salary statement or works pension statement. These must show your National Insurance number.
- Official letter sent to you by the Department for Work and Pensions, Jobcentre or HMRC tax department (not handwritten).
- National Insurance card.
When you have carried out steps above (1 to 7), please complete the online application form below.
On submitting the above form, you will need to pay an initial fee using a credit or debit card. Fees include the cost of the DBS check and safeguarding training:
- Hackney carriage: £420 (additional fee to pay prior to collection £103)
- Private hire: £292 (additional fee to pay prior to collection £90)
Once you have submitted the application form above, please book an appointment with our licensing team to bring in your supporting documents by emailing licensing@norwich.gov.uk
At the appointment
We will check through your documents and book you on a safeguarding training course which you are required to complete before your application is processed.
DBS update service
This service allows you to keep your standard or enhanced DBS certificate up to date and allows us to check your certificate online. Within 30 days from the date of issue of your DBS certificate you must sign up to the DBS update service, at a cost of £13 per year.
If you do not sign up you will need to apply for a DBS check every three years, with additional cost to you.
What happens next
Only when the application form and supporting documentation are complete can the application be processed. This process can take 30 days or more and could take longer if there are any motoring or criminal convictions to consider requiring a referral to the regulatory sub-committee.
When the application is granted, we will email you a link to book an appointment online to collect your driver’s licence. You will need to pay the remaining additional fee online prior to collection.
Contact details
If you have any questions about your application, email licensing@norwich.gov.uk or call 01603 989400.
