Change of name or address

If you change your name or address we'll issue you with a replacement licence. This will expire on the same date as your existing licence. You need to tell us about these changes within five working days of them taking effect.  

If you've changed your name you need to upload proof of this, such as your deed poll or marriage certificate. If you have a taxi driver's badge you also need to upload a photo that meets the passport-standard rules for digital photos, as we'll issue you with a replacement badge.

There's an administration charge of £10.50 to update either/both of these details.

Change a vehicle registration number

If you change the registration number of an already licensed hackney carriage or private hire vehicle, we need to issue you with a new licence and vehicle plate. These will expire on the same date as your existing licence and vehicle plate.

You'll need to upload proof from the DVLA that the registration number has changed and your new motor insurance certificate displaying the new details.

There's an administration charge of £25 to update these details.

Update DBS check certificate

If your DBS Update Service subscription has lapsed you'll need to apply for a new DBS certificate.

All licensed drivers must be registered on the DBS Update Service. If you've let your update service subscription lapse you'll need to pass an enhanced DBS check that has been completed by a council-approved DBS supplier. There's a fee for the check to be completed.

TaxiPlus

TaxiPlus is our approved supplier. Before applying for your DBS certificate with our supplier, please read through their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page - this will tell you what you need before applying and what the process will be. Once you've read through their FAQ page, you can then apply via their website. You can use their live chat if you need more information.

If you have any questions about the DBS certificate application process please contact TaxiPlus directly. Email hello@taxiplus.co.uk for more details.

When your check has been completed you'll receive your certificate through the post. You'll need to upload a copy of this when completing your taxi driver's licence online application. The certificate will only be valid for the purposes of an application if it's submitted within three months of the issue date on the certificate. Please note, it can take several weeks for you to receive your certificate.

DBS Update Service

You must sign up to the DBS Update Service when you apply for a taxi driver licence to allow the Licensing Section to access your DBS information.

You must sign up for the Update Service within 30 days of the date on your DBS certificate. Failure to sign up will require you to apply for a new DBS certificate at your own cost and your application may be rejected.

If you fail to maintain your DBS Update Service annual subscription, you'll also fail our six-monthly DBS checks and your licence may be suspended or revoked.

Update medical clearance

You need to meet the Group 2 UK medical standards for driver licensing to have a taxi driver's licence.

If your existing medical is due to expire you need to submit a new proof of medical clearance to us.

If you're aged 45 to 59 you need to obtain medical clearance every five years, or every 12 months if you're aged 60 or over.

To confirm you meet the standards you need to either:

• print our medical examination report and have this completed and signed by a doctor. The report includes a vision assessment which can be completed by either a doctor or optician. You may have to pay a fee to your doctor and/or optician to carry out your medical assessment.
  
  
• provide a DVLA check code generated from the GOV.UK website if you hold a valid HGV or PSV licence. This is to share your driving licence information with us.

You also need to upload a photo that meets the passport-standard rules for digital photos for us to use on your replacement badge.

After submitting your medical clearance we'll issue you with a replacement licence and badge. These will expire on the same date as your existing licence.

There's no charge for your replacement licence and badge.

Provide an MOT test certificate

If your vehicle has a 12-month licence but only a six-month plate (as it was a new vehicle at the time of licensing), the vehicle needs to pass an MOT test at one of our approved testing facilities before we can issue it with another six-month plate.

You need to send us a copy of the new MOT test certificate within seven days of the vehicle's initial plate expiry date. You also need to provide a copy of your motor insurance certificate at the same time. When we receive these we'll issue the vehicle with another six-month plate that expires on the same date as the licence. This plate is free of charge.

When renewing the vehicle licence in future we'll issue both the licence and plate for 12 months.

Update motor insurance details

If your existing motor insurance policy runs out before the date your hackney carriage/private hire vehicle licence expires, you need to tell us the details of your new policy.

We need to know the insurers name, the policy number and the start and end date of your policy. You also need to upload a copy of your new motor insurance certificate.

Transfer a vehicle licence from a previous owner

If you're the new owner of an existing licensed hackney carriage/private hire vehicle, you need to request to transfer the licence from the previous owner to yourself.

You need to tell us the registration number and taxi licence plate number of the vehicle, the contact details of the previous owner, and upload copies of:

• proof of vehicle ownership (V5C registration certificate, old style green 'new keeper' slip if this includes your name and address or receipt for the vehicle purchase)
• motor insurance certificate
• transfer of licence consent form (completed and signed by the previous owner and yourself)
• basic DBS check certificate, which must be dated within the last 12 months. If you're already a licensed taxi driver with us you don't need to include this, as your driver DBS check covers this.

There's an administration charge of £25 to transfer a licence from a previous owner.

Report an offence

You need to tell us about any convictions, including motoring offences and if you've attended a speed awareness course, whilst you hold a licence with us. You need to tell us the date it happened, details of the offence and the penalty.

When you report an offence you'll also need to provide a DVLA check code generated from the GOV.UK website, to share your driving licence information with us.