Apply for or renew a Hackney Carriage driver's licence

A Hackney Carriage (Taxi) can be flagged down or hired immediately without pre-booking. Both the vehicle and the driver need a licence issued by us. Journeys that are not pre-booked have to begin in Guildford borough.

A Hackney Carriage driver's licence means: 

• you can drive a Guildford licensed Hackney Carriage or private hire vehicle
• you must wear their licence badge at all times

Please read our  updated taxi policy 2021 (PDF) [1MB] before starting your application.

Requirements 

You must be a 'fit and proper person' - which means your background and character will be checked. We may carry out an enhanced criminal records check from the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). We will look at: 

• medical fitness
• driving record
• drivers must sign up to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service and a check every 6 months
• drivers must report any arrest, charges or conviction within 48 hours
• a code of conduct for drivers has now been introduced

Before you apply for a licence you must have passed:

• an approved driving assessment
• drivers must obtain a BTEC qualification in "The Introduction to the role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver". The qualification should be less than three years old when first submitted to us.

All new applicants need to pass an assessment before the license is granted, the following companies can help with this. To make a booking:

• The Blue Lamp Trust (opens new window), telephone 0333 700 0157
• AA DriveTech, telephone 01256 495132 or email tellmemore@AAdrivetech.com
• Green Penny (opens new window), telephone 0330 111 7230
• IAM RoadSmart (opens new window), telephone 020 8996 9600

We offer pre-application advice on this licence.

BTEC Course providers

We keep a record of organisations offering BTEC courses, but don't promote or recommend any of them. Any organisation can ask to be added to this list, and each one decides its own prices and course schedules. Drivers must pay all costs towards the qualification and pick a suitable course provider.
More course providers may be available besides those listed here.

Fees