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, 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:

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

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.

Fees

You will need:

• to have passed a knowledge test within the last three months
• 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, 214 KB) 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, 258 KB) 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 through any of the following providers. Pass Certificates must be provided upon application.
  • Blue Lamp Trust
  • Taxi Plus
  • Green Penny

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.

Start your application

To make this application you will need to:

1. click the button below, create an account, or log in to the licensing portal
2. after logging in select 'licensing' from the left hand side menu 
3. select taxis and private hire
4. you can then select the licence to apply for or renew

Apply for a Private hire driver licence (opens new window)

HMRC guidance about tax registration obligations

• PAYE information (opens new window)
• registering for self assessment (opens new window)
• corporation tax information (opens new window)

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

You will need:

• tax check code issued within 120 days at the point of application. Read tax check guidance (opens new window).
• 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, 258 KB) 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.

Start your application

To make this application you will need to:

1. click the button below, create an account, or log in to the licensing portal
2. after logging in select 'licensing' from the left hand side menu 
3. select taxis and private hire
4. you can then select the licence to apply for or renew

Renew a private hire driver licence (opens new window)