First steps to becoming a taxi driver

Throughout this section, ‘hackney carriage drivers’ and ‘private hire drivers’ will both be referred to as ‘taxi drivers’, and ‘fare-paying passengers’ as ‘passengers’.

If you wish to become a taxi driver you should contact your local authority to enquire about licensing arrangements in your area, both for yourself as a potential taxi driver and for your vehicle. Regulations differ from one local authority to another, whether you intend to drive a hackney carriage or a private hire vehicle.

The main difference between a hackney carriage and a private hire vehicle is that a hackney carriage can be hailed on the street or wait for a fare at a taxi rank, whereas a private hire vehicle must be booked by a customer in advance.

The badging and licensing requirements for both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are renewable and are the responsibility of the licensing authorities.

Regulations

Although regulations differ between local authorities, wherever you are, you’ll definitely need

• a medical check, including an eyesight test
• a Disclosure and Barring Service check
• to hold a current driving licence – even if you have penalty points on your licence, you may still be able to apply. Check with the licensing authority
• to pay a fee for the issue of the licence.

Many authorities set a driving test of some description. Contact your local authority to find out more about their requirements.

Medical check

Consult your doctor first if you have any doubts about your fitness. You may be refused a licence if you suffer from certain conditions, including epilepsy and diabetes, or don’t meet the eyesight requirements. (A full list of conditions can be found on the medical report form D4, available from www.gov.uk.)

You’ll need to send a medical report to your taxi licensing authority. The medical examination isn’t free under National Health Service rules. Your doctor may charge the current fee for this examination, and payment will be your responsibility. You’ll have to send in the report form by a set date after its completion for it to be valid.

For more information on driving taxis, go to www.gov.uk