How to Get a UK Taxi Licence

#Hackney carriage versus private hire

There are two distinct types of UK passenger-carrying licence at council level. A hackney carriage licence (often just called a taxi licence) lets you ply for hire on the street and use designated taxi ranks. A private hire vehicle (PHV) licence covers pre-booked work only (Uber, minicab firms, app-based platforms). The two are regulated separately by your local council, with different fee structures, vehicle requirements and operating rules. This guide covers the hackney carriage route. The private hire licence guide covers the PHV route.

A few drivers hold both licences for maximum flexibility, which is allowed but means paying two sets of fees and going through two parallel application processes. Most applicants pick one based on the kind of work they want.

#Eligibility checks

Every council in the UK requires the following before you can apply. You must hold a full UK or EU driving licence (not a provisional). You must have held it for a minimum period, usually 12 to 36 months depending on the council. You must be over 21 in most areas, though a handful set the threshold at 25. You must have the right to work in the UK with proof of identity and address. A clean licence is preferred but not always essential, depending on the points and offence type. The foreign licence conversion guide covers what to do if you are converting from a non-UK licence.

#The application steps

The process runs roughly in this order across most councils. First, submit the application form and pay the application fee (typically £75 to £200 depending on borough). Second, get an Enhanced DBS check, which checks criminal record at the highest level and costs around £50 to £75. Third, complete a Group 2 medical with your GP or an approved medical examiner, costing around £80 to £150. Fourth, sit the Knowledge Test, which varies wildly between councils. Fifth, sit a practical driving assessment, often delivered by an approved third party such as the AA or Blue Lamp Trust. Sixth, attend a safeguarding course covering child sexual exploitation awareness and safer transport. Once all of the above are passed, the council issues your driver badge.

In parallel, you need to license a vehicle. This means registering a specific car as a hackney carriage with that council, which involves a separate vehicle inspection and plating fee, usually £150 to £350 depending on the area. You can drive any plated vehicle the council allows, but London-style black cabs and a handful of approved wheelchair-accessible models are required in some boroughs.

#The Knowledge Test

The Knowledge Test is the part most applicants underestimate. London Black Cab Knowledge famously takes 3 to 4 years and is by far the most demanding, but every council runs some version of it. Smaller councils may have a 30 to 60 question multiple choice test on local geography and routing, completed in an afternoon. Mid-size cities (Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Glasgow) typically run a more substantial test combining a written exam, a route-planning exercise and an oral examination, taking 3 to 6 months of preparation. Pass rates vary from around 70 percent at smaller councils to under 20 percent for the toughest London variant.

Ask your council for the specific test format, the recommended study materials, and historic pass rates before you start. Several councils publish a free practice test online or sell an official knowledge book.

#Costs end to end

• Application fee: £75 to £200
• Enhanced DBS check: £50 to £75
• Group 2 medical: £80 to £150
• Knowledge Test fee: £40 to £200
• Practical driving assessment: £75 to £150
• Safeguarding training: £30 to £80
• Driver badge issue: £50 to £150
• Vehicle plate (separate): £150 to £350
• Vehicle inspection: £50 to £100

Total realistic upfront budget for both driver and vehicle is £750 to £1,800 depending on borough. Annual renewal fees are lower, usually £150 to £400 combined, but you do have to repeat the medical every 5 years (or annually from age 65) and the DBS check usually every 3 years.

#Timeline expectations

A realistic end-to-end timeline is 8 to 16 weeks for most councils, dominated by the wait for DBS, medical and Knowledge Test slots. The application form itself takes a day to complete, but DBS clearance can take 4 to 8 weeks and Knowledge Test slots may have a 4 to 12 week wait depending on demand. The toughest London Knowledge takes 3 to 4 years end to end and is in a category of its own.

#Choosing where to apply

Your hackney carriage licence is only valid in the council area that issued it. You can pick up fares anywhere within that council boundary, but you cannot ply for hire outside it. A handful of councils have reciprocal agreements with neighbours, but the default is that a Tower Hamlets licence works in Tower Hamlets only. If your work straddles a boundary, consider a private hire licence instead, since PHV pre-booked work is more flexible across borders. The main guides hub has the broader picture of UK driver licensing options.

#Ongoing requirements

Once you have the licence, you must report any new convictions, points or medical conditions to your council within set timescales (often 7 to 14 days). The council can suspend or revoke your licence if you fail to disclose. Vehicles must pass an annual inspection in addition to the standard MOT, and many councils require enhanced checks every 6 months for older cars. Most councils now also require dash cams, fare meters in approved tolerance, and clear identification of the driver and vehicle inside and outside the car.