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'.

The first step in applying for an operators licence is to complete an application form and submit this to the council along with all required documents and the fee.  

• Application for the grant of a Private Hire Operator licence (pdf)

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
• 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 (if premises allows access to members of public)
• Proof of correct planning permission 
• Property owner's letter of permission
• 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

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.

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. 

Renewal Applications
If you wish to continue to be licensed by this authority, you will need to complete the application form and return it to the Council with the relevant fee at least 2 months before the expiry of the current licence. 

Please submit the following:

• Application for the grant of a Private Hire Operator licence (pdf)
• 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
• 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.
• Certificate of public liability insurance (if premises allows access to members of public)
• Property owner's letter of permission for business to be operated at address
• List of vehicles and drivers Private Hire drivers and vehicle list
• Booking records for the previous 3 months
• Taxi safeguarding course pass certificate for each licence holder (if not previously provided)
• Payment for the application fee. Please note only card payments are accepted

The legal duty to be properly licensed rests with yourself. Therefore, if in future you do not receive a reminder from the Council you must still seek to renew your licence. It is an offence to take a booking for a Private Hire booking without a current and valid Private Hire Operator’s licence.

All licences must be renewed before their expiry date, as shown on the licence. Any application to renew a licence that has gone beyond its expiry date will be refused and an application for a NEW operator licence will be required.

Contact us

For more information on operator licences, please email licensing.team@threerivers.gov.uk or call 01923 776611.