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Apply for or renew a private hire driver licence

What you need to know

Private hire taxis must be pre-booked. Journeys can start or end anywhere, they do not have to be inside the borough. 

A private hire driver's licence means: 

  • drivers may drive a Guildford licensed private hire vehicle
  • you must wear their licence badge at all times
  • you cannot drive a Hackney Carriage

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

Requirements 

You 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 the council

All new applicants need to pass an assessment before we licence them, the following companies can help with this. To make a booking:

We offer pre-application advice on this licence.

BTEC Course providers

The Council keeps a record of organisations offering BTEC courses, but doesn't endorse 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 for all costs related to the qualification themselves and should choose a course provider that meets their requirements. 
This is not a comprehensive list, and other providers may be available.

Name of ProviderAddress & E-MailWebsite
Highfield Qualifications

Highfield ICON
First Point
Balby Carr Bank
Doncaster
South Yorkshire DN4 5JQ,

01302 363277

Highfield Qualifications (opens new window)
ED Lounge

Aston House
Campbell Way
Dinnington
Sheffield
South Yorkshire
S25 3QD

01909 568338

ED Lounge (opens new window)
Eastleigh College

Eastleigh College
Chestnut Avenue
Eastleigh
Hampshire
SO50 5FS

023 8091 1299

Eastleigh College (opens new window)
City and Guilds

5 - 6 Giltspur Street
London
EC1A9DE

01924930800

City and Guilds (opens new window)
Gateway Training Solutions

3 Elite House
70 Warwick Street
Birmingham
B12 0NL

0121 772 6794

Gateway Training Solutions (opens new window)
Pearson BTEC

2 Exeter Close,
Ardwick, Manchester,
M12 4AW

08000 24 24 43

Pearson BTEC (opens new window)
London Paragon College

Swarn House,
300 High Street,
Acton, London
W3 9BJ

020 364 28555

London Paragon College (opens new window)


Fees

Private Hire Drivers

Fee for 2024/25

Private Hire Driver's Licence (new/renew)

£397.44

Convert from Private Hire Driver to Hackney Carriage Driver

£19.94

Private Hire Driver Replacement Badge

£14.62