Apply for a taxi or private hire licence

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Taxi Licensing is experiencing an extremely high demand for new licences.  The service is currently processing applications received in February/March 2025.  There is a significant backlog of applications waiting to be processed.  It is anticipated that any new applications submitted after 30 June 2025 will not be processed for at least 6 months.  All submitted applications are held in a queue until they are ready to be processed.

TAXI LICENSING POLICY

Please read our taxi licensing policy (PDF, 2 MB)(opens new window) before making your application. DO NOT SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION UNTIL YOU HAVE READ THIS DOCUMENT. As part of your application, you will be asked to tick a box which states that you have read this information.

BEFORE SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Please ensure that you have all the relevant documents to hand that you will need to submit your application, these are detailed below.  You will not be able to submit an application without them.  Please ensure that you submit all pages of the correct documentation as your application will not be processed if these are incorrect.  Should this occur then your application will be further delayed.

Step 1: Submit an application for a Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Drivers Licence

To submit your application for a Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Drivers Licence you will need to complete the online application form. You MUST  upload the following documentation at the end of the application or your will be unable to submit:

• DVLA driving licence (held for at least 12 months (both sides) 
• A valid UK or Irish passport. For applicants who are not UK nationals by birth or by naturalisation you must produce a Home Office check code in order for us to check your right to work status, along with your passport.
• National insurance number (either the number card, official national insurance number letter from the DWP or the national insurance letter obtainable from the government gateway website)
• Bank statement (no older than 3 months), or council tax bill (current year).
• DVLA mandate check code
• HMRC tax check code (from 4 April 2022 if applicable). Please read the 'tax checks' section for full information.
• Recent colour passport-sized photograph (The photograph must include your head & shoulders and be taken with a white/pale background). Please note that this photograph should show the same likeness as the image on your DVLA Licence and Passport.
• Change of name deed poll, or marriage certificate if you have been known by another name.
• A certificate of good character (COGC) from the relevant Embassy if you have spent 3 or more continuous months outside of the UK since turning 18. The COGC must be in English.

Note: The online application form accepts the following file types only: DOC, DOCX, GIF, JPG, PDF, PNG, TIF, TIFF, TXT, XLS, XLSX, MP3, MP4, M4A

Once you have completed the application form and uploaded your supporting documentation you will be prompted to pay the application fees for your licence (either 1 or 3 years), Enhanced DBS check (step 2), the Essential Training (step 3), and the DVLA mandate check.

IMPORTANT:  Once you have submitted your application, you will receive an email acknowledgement with a reference number.  This means that your application has been successfully submitted. Please do not contact us as your application will have joined our queue and we will not be able to deal with your enquiry.  When we are ready to process your application, you will be contacted by a member of the team.

Please note. You will only proceed to step 2 when we start to process your application.

Step 2: Enhanced DBS Check

Note: The DBS checks are completed via an online portal provided by Zellis.

When we are ready to process your application you will receive information via email and text message from Zellis, containing a link to the portal along with a password to access your account. You will then need to complete your application for an Enhanced DBS check.

You will need to complete all sections of the DBS form and the digital ID verification.

Important: All documents (including your DVLA driving licence) must be in your current address. These are the requirements of the DBS and not the Council. 

DBS certificates are valid for a period of 2 months from the date that they're issued.

Once you have received your DBS certificate you must keep this in a safe place as copies are not issued and you will need it in future. register with the DBS Update Service. You must register for the DBS online service as soon as you receive your certificate as you can only do this within 28 of the date of the certificate. Retain proof of your subscription to the DBS update service, and provide a copy of this to us by emailing newapplications@sthelens.gov.uk

What if I already have a DBS certificate that is registered with the DBS Update Service?

If you already have a "other workforce taxi driver" Enhanced DBS certificate that is registered with this DBS update service you will need to email us a copy of each page of the certificate, along with evidence of your subscription. Please attach the copies to the same email. You must also complete our application for online checking of DBS certificates form (PDF, 39 KB) in order to give us your consent to perform a check on your DBS.

Step 3: Complete the Taxi Training

You will be booked onto the essential training, which is comprised of safeguarding, and a disability awareness. Please be aware that your conversational and written English will be checked as part of the training.  There is no test.

You will need to bring the following original documents with you to the training:

• Your DVLA driving licence.
• Your valid passport.
• Your National insurance number (either the number card, official national insurance number letter from the DWP or the national insurance letter obtainable from the government gateway website)
• Your bank statement (no older than 3 months), or council tax bill (current year).
• A recent colour passport-sized photograph (The photograph must include your head & shoulders and be taken with a white/pale background).
• The change of name deed poll, or marriage certificate if you have been known by another name.
• A certificate of good character (COGC) from the relevant Embassy if you have spent 3 or more continuous months outside of the UK since turning 18. The COGC must be in English.

Step 4: Obtain a Group 2 Medical Assessment from a GP who has access to your medical records.

The Group 2 Medical Assessment form which you must take to your appointment with your G.P. can be downloaded here. (PDF, 578 KB)

Medical assessments are valid for a period of 2 months from the date they're completed. Only pages 1 and 2 of the medical assessment need to be returned to us.

Step 5: Collect your Licence

Once you have registered with the DBS update service, obtained a group 2 medical assessment, completed the essential training, submitted your application for a Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Drivers Licence, and provided all required original documentation you will be notified when you can collect your licence from St Helens Town Hall  (providing there are no instances that would trigger a referral to the Licensing & Environmental Protection Committee in line with our policies).