You can apply to become a taxi driver if you’re over 18 years old and you’ve held a full DVLA driving licence for at least 12 months.
If you would like to become a taxi or private hire driver please see the below information about how to apply and the application process. You should read the Common Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing in Gloucestershire and Stroud's Taxi and Private Hire Policies before submitting your application.
If you’ve got a criminal conviction or DVLA points you should read the Convictions Policy in the Common Licensing Standards for Licensing hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers before applying. As part of the application process you will need to apply for an Enhanced DBS check. if the DBS enhanced Certificate shows any convictions we will consider them in line with our Convictions Policy in the Common Licensing Standards document.
Stroud District Council has signed up to the National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations (NR3). From 1st April 2020 Officers will use the register to check all new and renewal driver applications to establish whether they have had a licence revoked or an application refused by another authority. For more information please click here.
From 4 April 2022, the rules changed when applying for taxi and private hire drivers licence. For information about tax conditionality checks please click here.
You will not need to complete a tax check if you have:
However, you must ensure that you have read the tax responsibilities guidance by signing the declaration on the new driver application form.
In the first instance we ask you to email the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk
This will enable us to see what it is that you are applying for and allow us to answer any queries that you may have about the application process.
Please do not move onto Step 2 of the application process until Step 1 is complete and we have advised you to do so.
Once Step 2 of the application process is complete you will need to contact the licensing team at licensing@stroud.gov.uk, to arrange an appointment at the council offices at Ebley Mill. You will need to bring your original Right to Work document and your DBS certificate to this appointment for us to see in person.
If you have been unable to provide an appropriate education certificate to evidence your English Proficiency we will also arrange for the English Proficiency Test to be carried out at this appointment. Please do not book the test without speaking to a member of the licensing team first.
Once you have completed Step 3 of the application and we have told you we are satisfied that there are no relevant convictions on your DBS certificate or DVLA record you can move onto Step 2.
You will need to email the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk;
Once all of the above has been completed to a satisfactory level the Licensing Team will issue your licence. We will email you your licence and an Interim Authority Notice. You will need to keep the Interim Authorisation Notice within the vehicle at all times for members of the public and the police to view in the absence of your badges.
Your badges will then be posted out to you at our earliest convenience. When you receive your badges you must remember that when you are working, you must wear one badge on your person so that it is plainly visible to the public, and display the second badge on the passenger side front dash board of the vehicle
You need an operators licence if you want to operate licensed private hire vehicles driven by licensed private hire drivers.
If you want to apply for an Operator Licence you should first read the Taxi and private hire information for new applicants and the Common Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing in Gloucestershire and Stroud's Taxi and Private Hire Policies before submitting your application.
From 4 April 2022, the rules changed when applying for taxi and private hire drivers licence. For information about tax conditionality checks please click here.
You will not need to complete a tax check if you have:
However, you must ensure that you have read the tax responsibilities guidance by signing the declaration on the new driver application form.
To apply for a new Operator Licence you will need to send the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk;
Before applying for a new vehicle licence you should read the Taxi and private hire information for new applicants and the Common Licensing Standards for Taxi and Private Hire Licensing in Gloucestershire and Stroud's Taxi and Private Hire Policies before submitting your application.
A new application for a taxi or private hire vehicle licence will be refused if a vehicle is more than 5 years old from the date of first registration. Wheelchair accessible vehicles are exempt from the above age policy but must be Euro 6 compliant
To apply for a new vehicle licence you will need to send the following to licensing@stroud.gov.uk;
You need to pay for a new vehicle application which includes the plate and in addition you must pay a refundable plate deposit.
The links to make the two payments are below:
Hackney Carriage
Hackney Carriage New Vehicle Application Fee
Hackney Carriage Plate Deposit
Private Hire
Private Hire New Vehicle Application Fee
Licensed vehicles that are able to carry at least one wheelchair with the passenger remaining seated in that wheelchair, should the passenger wish to, will be 'designated' under Section 167 of the Equality Act 2010. Drivers of these vehicles, unless they hold a valid Medical Exemption, must ensure that they comply with the following duties:
A driver of a ‘designated’ vehicle commits an offence if they fail to comply with the above duties. If a driver is prosecuted for this offence they could be subject to a fine not exceeding £1,000.
A driver can apply for a Medical Exemption Certificate if they are unable to comply with the above duties for medical reasons or because their physical condition makes it impossible to comply. If you wish to apply for a Medical Exemption Certificate you will need to contact the Licensing Section.