Apply for or renew a private hire driver licence

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) [1MB] 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:

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

We offer pre-application advice on this licence.

Fees

You will need:

• completed private hire driver's licence application form (Word doc) [60KB]
• to be aware of the content of HMRC guidance relating to tax registration obligations. See links below for guidance.
• two passport-sized photographs, taken within the last three months
• a  medical form (Word doc) [214KB]  completed within the last three months by your doctor
• the correct fee payable by credit or debit card
• practical assessment for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire driver pass certificate. The assessment should be no more than 12 months old
• BTEC qualification certificate in the role of the professional taxi and private hire driver completed within the last 3 years
• full DVLA driver's licence
• completed DVLA mandate form; this will be produced and sent to you once you submit your application
• enhanced  DBS Certificate (PDF) [165KB] issued less than three months before the date of application
• proof of right to live and work in the UK
• completed the Safeguarding Adults and Child Sexual Exploitation Course. The course is an online learning course provided by Barnardo's. It is available to complete through this page, Safeguarding Adults and Child Sexual Exploitation programme. Pass certificates must be provided upon application

Please note: If you have lived outside the UK for more than three months since the age of 16, you will need a letter of good conduct from the embassy or consulate of the country you lived in. This must be from the embassy or consulate that is based in the UK and must be issued within the last three months.

HMRC guidance about tax registration obligations

• PAYE information
• registering for self assessment
• corporation tax information

You need to renew your licence at least 15 working days before your current licence expires.

You will need:

• completed renewal application form for a Private Hire driver (Word doc) [59KB]
• tax check code issued within 120 days at the point of application. Read tax check guidance.
• two passport-sized photographs, taken within the last three months
• the correct fee payable by credit or debit card
• full DVLA driver's licence
• completed DVLA mandate form, this will be sent to you once you submit your application
• enhanced  DBS Certificate (PDF) [165KB] issued less than three months before the date of application
• proof of right to live and work in the UK 
• drivers licensed before 9 December 2015 must complete the BTEC qualification certificate in the role of the professional taxi and private hire driver before 1 January 2019. After this date, your licence will not be renewed unless you have completed the qualification. This qualification should be less than three years old when first submitted to the council

Please note: If you have lived outside the UK for more than three months since the age of 16, you will need a letter of good conduct from the embassy or consulate of the country you lived in. This must be from the embassy or consulate that is based in the UK.