What you need to know
- you must renew before your licence expires to keep driving legally.
- apply early – it can take at least 6 weeks to process.
- you can keep driving while your renewal is being processed, as long as you apply and pay before your licence expires.
What you need to do
1. Get your documents ready
Before you apply online, make sure you have:
- a completed medical form (filled in by your GP within the last month).
- a recent passport-style photo (taken in the last 3 months).
- a valid DVLA driving licence showing your current address.
- two forms of ID (e.g. passport and a utility bill).
- a DBS check (apply via Taxi Plus for faster processing).
- proof of your National Insurance number (e.g. payslip, P60, or official letter).
- a tax check code from HMRC (you’ll need a Government Gateway account).
- Safeguarding training (you'll need to book this online).
2. Renew online
You will need to:
- Pay the initial fee:
- hackney carriage: £275
- private hire: £218
Helpful tips
Sign up for the DBS Update Service (£13/year) to avoid reapplying every time.
If your licence expires, you’ll need to start a new application.
