Licence summary
Before you can drive either a hackney carriage or private hire
vehicle you will need to obtain a driver’s licence from us. The
licences issued last for three years and are specific to the person
named on the licence.
We issue two types of taxi driver licences. A private hire
driver’s licence allows a person to drive only private hire
vehicles and a combined licence allows a person to drive both
hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.
Conditions are attached to licences granted and a
fee is payable before a licence is issued. Licence fees are
paid in advance for the three year licence period unless financial
hardship can be proven when we will issue a three year licence with
annual fee instalments. The conditions attached to licences form
part of the licence and must be complied with.
Before we are able to process an application for a driver’s
licence the applicant must undergo an applicant suitability test.
This test covers numeracy, literacy, the ability to read a map and
general local knowledge of the North Somerset area. Driver
suitability tests can be arranged by contacting the
Licensing
Team.
In addition to the driver suitability test all applicants will
be required to pass a knowledge test. There are separate tests for
both private hire and combined driver’s licences. These tests
cover general knowledge of legislation relating to taxi licensing
and specific knowledge relating to roads, local places of interest
etc.
Both the suitability and knowledge tests comprise of multiple
choice computer based questions. The tests are carried out the
Licensing Office at Warne Road in Weston super Mare.
We have
produced Guidance Notes to assist persons making
an application for either a private hire driver or combined
driver licence.
Eligibility criteria
Before we can grant either a private hire or combined driver’s
licence we must be satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper
person to hold such a licence. In making this determination you
will need to satisfy us of the following:
- You must be at least 18 years of age and have held a full UK
DVLA or EAA driving licence for at least one year.
- You must be able to work legally in the UK
- You will need to have undergone an enhanced criminal record
check by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and any convictions
subsequently declared must meet the standards in our
criminal convictions policy.
- You will need to undergo and pass a driving test carried out
independently by the
Driving Standards Agency. Applicants will need to arrange this
test themselves.
- You will need to undergo a medical examination by your own
doctor and pass the
Group 2
medical standard of fitness to drive a vehicle as outlined in
the standards set by the DVLA. We will provide you with a form to
be completed by your doctor.
- We have received a report from the DVLA on your driving licence
so that we can determine if any endorsements are present and
relevant to the application made.
- You have to passed our driver suitability test and the relevant
knowledge test for the type of licence being applied
for.
- You have provided two references, one from a previous employer
and one personal character reference from another person on your
suitability to be a licensed driver. We will undertake the process
of collecting these references.
Please note that a failure to declare any relevant convictions
(spent or unspent) will result in your application being referred
to the Licensing Sub-Committee for determination.
Regulation summary
The main legal requirements relating to taxi driver’s licences
are contained within the following legislation:
Application evaluation process
Before we can determine a licence application we need to be in
receipt of the following:
- Completed North Somerset application form
- Completed Criminal Records Bureau Disclosure not older than one
month from the date the application was made (please note we do not
accept CRB Disclosures carried out by other
organisations)
- Completed medical form from your GP to Group 2 medical
standard
- Driving test pass certificate from the Driving Standards
Agency
- DVLA report on your driving licence
- EEA driving licence
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- The required fees
We will check the application made along with the required
supporting documentation. When all are present and in order we will
be able to issue either a private hire or combined driver’s
licence. Due to the nature of the checks undertaken with external
agencies please allow at least 6 weeks for a licence to be
granted.
If any of the checks made in relation to the licence application
result in adverse reports being received e.g. previous criminal
convictions, adverse medical examination, the application will be
determined by our Licensing Sub-Committee.
Downloadable forms and other
documents
Failed application redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
Any applicant who is refused a licence, or refused the renewal
of a licence, may, within 21 days of being notified of the refusal,
appeal to the
local
magistrates' court.
Licence holder redress
Please contact us in the first instance.
A licence holder who wishes to appeal against a condition on a
licence can appeal to a
local
magistrates' court within 21 days of being notified of
inclusion of the condition on the licence.
Consumer complaint
We would always advise that in the event of a complaint the
first contact is made with the operator of the vehicle by you -
preferably in the form a letter (with proof of delivery). If that
has not worked, you will need to complete a
complaint form and forward it to the
Licensing
Team.
Licensed drivers are required to comply with the following
standards:
Public registers
Please contact the Licensing Team for more information on the
registers held.
Trade associations
Contact details
For more information contact our
Licensing
Team.
