Applying for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licences

Members of the travelling public place a lot of trust in the driver of the licensed vehicle they get into. Therefore, the Council insists on high standards from an applicant for a driver's licence.

You will not be authorised to drive a licensed vehicle until such time as all relevant checks have been completed and you have been judged to be a fit and proper person to hold a licence. Any person refused a licence will be given full reasons for the refusal and may appeal the refusal decision to the Magistrates Court.

Identity of Applicants and Right to a Licence Check

The Council will make every effort to confirm the identity of all applicants.  Verification of identity, date of birth, address and any change of name will be obtained.

In line with the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016 we must check that all driver licence applicants are permitted to work in the UK. With this in mind, when you make your licence application, you must make it in person at the Council's Horncastle Offices and present:

·       Your UK Passport, or

·       Your UK birth certificate, together with an official document giving your name and National Insurance number

If you do not hold the above and instead hold one of the following:

·       Biometric Residents Permits (BRP)

·       Biometric Residents Cards (BRC)

·       Frontier Worker Permit (FWP)

then you will need to evidence your right to work in the UK using the Home Office online checking service and provide a check code to the Licensing Team as part of the licence application. The online checking service can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

Please contact us by email (licensing@e-lindsey.gov.uk) to make an appointment for the above identity checks to be undertaken. We will not be in a position to accept and process your driver licence application unless you comply with the above requirements.

Once we have made the appropriate 'right to a licence check' we will not normally need to make another relevant 'right to a licence' check - unless there are specific restrictions on an individual's right to work in the UK (e.g., a limit on the time that an individual may work and remain in the UK).

Check of DVLA Driver Licence

We will require you to share your DVLA Driving Licence information with us using the facility provided on the following gov.uk website: 

www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

You can use this service to create a licence 'check code' to share your driving record with us - the check code will be valid for 21 days. Further information on this process can be found on our Hire Vehicle Driver - DVLA Check webpage.

Online Safeguarding Courses

The Council has made the online taxi and private hire vehicle safeguarding training, provided by the Lincolnshire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB), a mandatory requirement for all drivers licensed with this Authority. Details of how to register and access the courses can be found in the relevant guidance leaflet from the Licensing Team. You must let us have sight of the training certificates when you have passed the courses - we are not advised separately by the training provider who has completed the online course.

Safeguarding Code of Conduct

Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are in a position of trust in respect of the safety and welfare of their passengers. With this in mind we have adopted a Code of Conduct for drivers. All licence applicants are required to sign up to the Code of Conduct.

Blue Lamp Trust or LRSP Taxi and Private Hire Driving Assessment

Before you are granted a driver licence you must have passed a taxi and private hire driving assessment. The driving assessment will be at your own expense. Our Driving Assessment webpage explains about the assessment and how you book an appointment direct with the Blue Lamp Trust or LRSP for the assessment.

Medical Examinations

The Council requires licence holders to attain DVLA Group 2 Vocational Licence Standard.

A Medical Practitioner who has full knowledge of the licence applicant's medical history must carry out the examination. Any fee charged by the Doctor is payable by the applicant. The Council will not normally accept certified medical certificates submitted with a driver licence application that are received more than 2 months after the Doctor has signed the report.

Further information, regarding medicals, can be found on our Hire Vehicle Driver Medicals webpage. If you intend to use a private doctor for your medical assessment, then you must note the contents of the 'Private Medical Examination' section at the end of the Driver Medical webpage.

Convictions

The disclosure of a criminal record will not debar an applicant from gaining a licence unless the Authority considers that the convictions render(s) him/her unsuitable.  In making this decision the Authority will consider the nature of the offence, how long ago and the age of the applicant when it was committed and any other factors that may be relevant.

The Council has adopted strict guidelines relating to the relevance of convictions and each case will be decided on its own merits. New licence applicants may contact the Licensing Team to discuss what effect a conviction or caution or fixed penalty notice might have on their application.

Convictions involving dishonesty, indecency, violence or disqualification from driving are those most likely to result in a licence not being issued.

Checks on Applicant's who have Resided Outside the UK

Applicants for a driver's licence will be asked to declare whether within 5 years of the date of licence application they have at any time lived or worked outside the UK for a continuous period exceeding 3 months. Applicants who answer in the affirmative will be required to obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct (or similar document) from the country in which they resided. Further information is available from the Licensing Team.

Holders of European Community / European Economic Area Driving Licences

The Council requires all taxi and private hire vehicle drivers who hold an EC / ECA driving licence to hold a GB counterpart document. Any individual making a licence application will be required to obtain a GB counterpart prior to the issue of a licence.

When licence holders apply for a GB counterpart, they will be registered with the DVLA. Any driving convictions and endorsements subsequently incurred by the licence holder in the UK will be recorded by the DVLA. Further information on the process of applying for a GB counterpart is available from the Licensing Team.

Further Information

The Licensing Team aim to provide you with a first-class licensing service. However, there may be times when you feel we have not done so. If this is the case, please tell us about it so that we can do our best to solve the problem.

Should you require any further information or advice please do not hesitate to contact the Licensing Team by email at:

licensing@e-lindsey.gov.uk