Hackney Carriage, private hire and dual driver’s licences

Hackney Carriage, private hire and dual driver’s licences

You need a licence to drive a Hackney Carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle in Three Rivers District. A dual driver’s licence enables you to drive both types of vehicles.

Apply for a licence

Please read our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy 2022 before submitting your licence application.

To apply for a Hackney Carriage, private hire or dual driver’s licence, you must:

• have held a full UK DVLA driving licence for a minimum of three years prior to applying
• be at least 21 years old
• have a legal right to work in the UK (you will need to provide a share code)
• be a suitable person to hold a driver's licence (we will consider any motoring offences or endorsements, previous convictions, your health and physical condition and other factors when deciding this)

If applying by completing a form, send your completed application to licensing.team@threerivers.gov.uk and call customer services on 01923 776611 to pay the relevant fee.

You will need to supply the below additional documents when submitting your application:

• a completed Group 2 medical report (PDF) signed by your doctor (see our guidance on medical requirements)
• an enhanced driving qualification certificate
• a taxi safeguarding course pass certificate
• proof of your immigration status/right to work in the UK (unrestricted). If you are not a British/Irish passport holder you will need to provide a share code
• a passport-style photo (see our photo guidance (PDF))
• a clear copy of your DVLA photocard driving licence displaying your current home address (front and back)
• a certificate of good character if you have not lived in the UK for the last five years continuously (note: must be in English and dated less than three months old)
• two character references
• proof of your National Insurance number
• an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate (see our DBS check guidance)

After you submit your application, you will need to organise your knowledge test.

Renew your licence

Licences are issued for three years, though you can request a one-year licence under certain circumstances. You must make sure to renew your licence at least four weeks before it expires.

Send your completed application to licensing.team@threerivers.gov.uk and call customer services on 01923 776611 to pay the relevant fee. You will need to supply the below additional documents when submitting your application:

• a completed Group 2 medical report (PDF) signed by your doctor, if due (see our guidance on medical requirements)
• a taxi safeguarding course pass certificate
• proof of your immigration status/right to work in the UK (unrestricted). If you are not a British/Irish passport holder you will need to provide a share code
• a recent passport-style photo (see our photo guidance (PDF))
• a clear copy of your DVLA photocard driving licence displaying your current home address (front and back)
• a valid enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check (we can only accept certificates registered on the DBS update service if you have paid and the certificate is for an Enhanced DBS where the position applied for is ‘Other Workforce’ AND ‘Taxi/Private Hire  Driver’. Please submit a scanned copy of the original certificate. If you need to apply for a new certificate, see our Enhanced DBS check page)
• proof of your National Insurance number