Private Hire Operator Licence
8 April 2020 - NEW Applications for Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Drivers and Private Hire Operators
Due to the current situation with Covid-19 (coronavirus), we are unable to accept any new applications due to applicants being unable to obtain a medical certificate from their GP. We are also not able to offer any knowledge test appointments for new applicants whilst the Council offices remain closed.
Anyone who acts as a private hire operator (that is, anyone who invites or accepts bookings for private hire vehicles, including 'booking agent' businesses which accept bookings and then sub-contract them) must be licensed by us. Private hire vehicles cannot lawfully carry out any journey which has not been pre-booked through an operator, and may invalidate their insurance if they were to do so.
For licensing purposes, it does not make any difference how a booking is made - companies providing booking offices, telephone booking lines, websites or app bookings must all be licensed. It also, does not make a difference whether the booking is for a one-off journey to be paid in cash, or a regular booking under a contract. Vehicles provided as part of a commercial package (for example, courtesy car pick-up from a hotel) may also need to be licensed, as will the hire of 'novelty' vehicles, such as stretch limos and party buses, or chauffeur-driven cars (although wedding and funeral car services are exempt from licensing).
Operators are responsible for arranging and fulfilling bookings, employing and vetting licensed drivers and vehicles, responding to customer complaints, and maintaining records of every booking they receive. As they are responsible for the care of their customers, some of whom may be vulnerable, it is vital that we can be satisfied that operators are 'fit and proper persons'.
| 1 Year 1 Vehicle | £194.50 |
| 5 Years 1 Vehicle | £973.50 |
| 1 Year 2-4 Vehicles | £256.00 |
| 5 Years 2-4 Vehicles | £1280.00 |
| 1 Year 5-10 Vehicles | £348.00 |
| 5 Years 5-10 Vehicles | £1740.00 |
| 1 Year 11+ Vehicles | £363.00 |
| 5 Years 11+ Vehicles | £1816.50 |
| Replacement licence | £10.00 |
Applications
If an application is made by a registered company or partnership, all details relating to directors of that company or all partners must be provided in order to determine if the operator is fit and proper to hold such a licence.
In order to obtain an operators licence for Three Rivers your operating base (that is where the telephone is answered and bookings are actually taken) must be within the district of Three Rivers. Please note: Applicants for operator licences cannot use the same (or similar) name as any private hire firm currently operating within the district or any previously used within the district and registered by the operator at Companies House.
Private Hire Operators can operate from either their home address (1-2 PH Vehicles maximum) or from offices open to the public.
New licence application
All applications must be accompanied by:
- Passport style colour photo for each applicant (see photo guidance (pdf))
- Current valid passport and proof of right to work in the UK for each applicant (If you are on a time limited visa, any licence which may be issued will expire when your visa expires. If, at any time, your entitlement to work in the UK is removed, your licence will be revoked.)
- Valid DVLA licence photo card and valid DVLA online check code for each applicant
- Valid Basic Disclosure certificate for each applicant, and every director of the company. This certificate must be less than 3 months old at the time of submission.
- Taxi safeguarding course pass certificate for each applicant
- Certificate of public liability insurance and employers liability insurance (only applicable if you are applying for a public office or you are employing staff)
- Proof of correct planning permission for proposed operating base (You may need planning permission to use any premises (either your home address or an office) as a booking office.)
- Property owner's letter of permission (if proposes premises is rented)
- List of proposed vehicles and drivers Private Hire drivers and vehicle list
- Payment for the appropriate application fee. Please note only card payments are accepted and payable by calling customer services on 01923 776611
Step 2 - The Knowledge Test
All applicants for a private hire operator licence must also sit a knowledge test. Please find all information here
Step 3 - Operating Base Inspection
In order to ensure that you will be operating from a base within Three Rivers, a Licensing Officer will inspect your operating base to ensure that this requirement is met. They will also request to see how bookings will be taken and records kept. The private hire operator may only operate from an address within Three Rivers, this address must be the premises where all records are kept and where bookings are made.
Step 4 - The Licence
Once all the relevant paperwork has been received, validated and processed, the knowledge test has been passed and the inspection completed, a licence will be issued for a maximum period of five years. During this period each licence holder(s) is required to submit an annual basic disclosure certificate (or if already licensed as a driver then we will accept their enhanced disclosure certificate). Failure to provide this may result in a suspension of the licence.
Contact us
For more information on operator licences, please email licensing.team@threerivers.gov.uk or call 01923 776611.