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A licence is required before any person can drive a licensed private hire vehicle.

Before a licence is granted the applicant must satisfy the Council that:

• he/she is a fit and proper person to hold a licence;
• he/she is medically fit;
• he/she has held a full driver's licence (not a provisional licence) granted to the applicant under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1972 authorising him/her to drive a motor car for at least twelve months prior to the date of the application;
• he/she must pass a police criminality check carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to ensure safety to the public

Applicants for new private hire drivers licences must attend our Private Hire Drivers Training Course which costs £25.00.

Once the application form has been completed, you need to make an appointment to visit our Offices, bringing with you the following documentation:

• the completed application form
• your DVLA Driving Licence (original - not a photocopy) showing your current address – if you have a new photocard licence you need to produce both the photocard and paper licence.
• your passport or birth certificate
• a recent utility bill (i.e. gas, electricity)
• 2 colour passport type photographs taken within the last month.
• annual drivers licence fee of £55.00 (rate for 2006/2007)

Applications will not be accepted without production of the above.

The medical form needn't be completed at this stage. You may wait until the necessary checks have been returned to us and you have passed your topographical test. It is worth noting that, should you decide to withdraw your application for whatever reason, the medical fee is non-refundable.

Therefore, it is entirely up to you to decide at which point during the application process that you have the medical. [All medicals will be conducted by the council’s own occupational health unit at a cost of £60].

Upon production of the forms at the licensing office, you will be asked to complete a form to enable us to check with the Criminal Records Bureau for any records held against you. Please be aware that we normally allow approximately up to 8 weeks from receipt of your application for return of these checks as this is the average time that they take.

Once you have undergone satisfactory checks with the Criminal Records Bureau and the DVLA and you have received medical clearance from the Council's Occupational Health Unit regarding your medical fitness to drive a private hire vehicle, you will then be offered an appointment to attend the next available private hire driver training course.

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