Taxi and private hire driver licences

You need a taxi driver licence before you can drive a licensed hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.

There are two types of taxi driver licence:

Hackney carriage and private hire driver licence – sometimes called a dual driver licence. This allows you to drive both licensed hackney carriage vehicles and licensed private hire vehicles.

Private hire driver licence – this allows you to drive licensed private hire vehicles only.

Hackney carriages can be hailed in the street, wait at taxi ranks, or be pre-booked. Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed private hire operator.

Before you apply, you should decide which type of driver licence you need and read the taxi licensing policy for the licensing authority you are applying to.

The taxi licensing policy sets out the standards that licensed drivers must meet. These standards help make sure that drivers are safe, suitable, medically fit, properly checked, and understand their responsibilities when carrying passengers.

Worcestershire Taxi licensing policies

The rules cover things such as identity checks, right to work, Disclosure and Barring Service checks, medical fitness, driving history, safeguarding awareness, local knowledge, and conduct.

Before you start your application, you should read this page and the taxi licensing policy for the licensing authority you are applying to.

This will help you understand what information, checks, certificates, and documents you need to provide, and whether you are likely to meet the licensing requirements.