Become a Taxi Driver

To become a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver in Breckland you have to be licensed by us.  Drivers are licensed to ensure passengers are confident in using safe and reliable taxi services in the Breckland area.  Our driver licence lasts for three years (in most cases).  This will enable you to drive a vehicle licensed by Breckland Council only (not other Local Authority licensed vehicles). 

There are a number of requirements which must be satisfied before an application can be considered:

• You must have held a full UK/EU driving licence for a minimum of 12 months.  This licence must be in good condition and show your current address.
• You must have a right to work in the UK and be able to provide evidence to show this.
• You must be able to meet the requirements and conditions outlined in theTaxi Policy
• You must be able to meet the requirements of Appendix C of ourTaxi Policy. This will include any convictions, motoring or otherwise, you may have had in the past as this may have an impact on whether we would issue you with a licence.
• Do you live in the Breckland Council area?  If not, we will require a written statement from who outlining how you meet this requirement and written confirmation from any employer you will be working for in Breckland Council's area.

There are two stages to the application process.

Stage 1 (Pre-application)

• Contact licensingteam@breckland.gov.uk for an application pack and/or to request a call to discuss any issues you may have meeting the above requirements.  If you have a current enhanced DBS certificate less than three months old or an enhanced DBS certificate linked to the update service please contact us to make sure it meets our requirements.
• Provide a completed application form and statutory declaration form.  Provide three pieces of supporting documentation for the DBS process.
• Provide documentation to show you have the right to work in the UK.
• Provide a colour copy of your DVLA driving licence - front and back.
• Pay the pre-application fee of £101.00 and the DBS fee of £49.50.  We will phone you to take these payments.  (Please note these fees are non-refundable).

On receipt of all the above, you will receive an email confirmation of the pre-application stage.  The email will also contain a link for you to complete the online DBS application and information on Stage 2 of the application process.

Stage 2 (Licence application)

• Provide a valid enhanced DBS certificate or if you are registered to use the DBS update service, your original enhanced DBS certificate.
• Provide a completed Breckland Council Medical Declaration form.  You must use the Breckland Council form and a GP must certify you as being 'Fit to Drive' to DVLA GB Medical Standards for Group 2 Licence Holders.  This must be carried out either by your registered GP or by our appointed supplier of driver medicals, D4Drivers.  A separate fee is payable to your GP or D4Drivers for completion of our medical declaration form.

Using Your Own GP.  Contact your own medical practice and book your medical with your GP.  Most surgeries ask for payment at the time the medical is carried out.  Take the Breckland medical form with you to your appointment for your GP to fill out, sign and date. 

Using D4Drivers.  Contact D4Drivers by phone (found on their website) or the link detailed below to book and pay for your medical appointment.  You will need to get a summary of your medical history from your GP surgery (this should be free of charge).  Please note that the summary must not be more than 30 days old when you have your appointment with D4Drivers or you will be turned away.  You must take the medical history summary and the Breckland Medical Declaration Form with you to your appointment. 

Once you are 65 years old, or for certain medical conditions, a yearly medical will be required.

D4Drivers are the only alternative to your registered GP that Breckland Council will accept.

• Provide a pass certificate for the taxi driver driving assessment in your name.  We have two providers that can be used. Norfolk Road Safety (opens new window), please contact roadsafety@norfolk.gov.uk directly or Blue Lamp Trust (opens new window).  A separate fee is payable for this assessment.
  • Provide a certificate of attendance of the Taxi and Private Hire Safeguarding training (opens new window).  This must be the face to face course provided by the Blue Lamp Trust not the e-learning course.  A separate fee is payable for this training.
• Provide one colour photograph, with a plain background (the photograph must be a true likeness of the applicant at the time of the application).
• You must be ready to pay the remaining licence fee of £172.00 (we will contact you to take this payment).

Important Points to Note

• NAFN NR3s - National Register of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver refusals and revocations. Your application will be checked against the National Register to see if you have had any previous applications/licences suspended, refused or revoked.
• HMRC -When applying to become a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Driver for the first time, you need to confirm to us that you are aware of your tax responsibilities. This is also the case if you have already held one of these licence types but it has not been valid for a year or more.  Confirmation that you understand yourtax responsibilities (opens new window) is contained in the Breckland Council application form.  If you do not confirm you are aware of the guidance, you will not be issued with a licence.
• Limited time restricted documents
  • Once completed, the Breckland Medical Declaration form is valid only for three months from the date of issue.
  • The DBS certificate is only valid for three months from the date of issue.
  • The safeguarding certificate is only valid for three months
  • The taxi driver assessment is only valid for 12 months

If any of these documents fall outside of these timeframes, these will be invalid and you will need to carry them out again at your own expense.

Grant or Refusal

• Once a hackney carriage/private hire driving licence has been granted, the licence holder will be subject to the Council's Taxi Policy and all conditions contained within(LINK).
• If an officer believes your application goes against the Breckland taxi policy you will be advised and may have the option to go before a panel for them to determine your application.  However, if you choose to go before Panel you need to be aware that if the licence is refused, you details will be entered onto the National Register of Refusals (NAFN NR3s) for a period of 11 years which may affect any future applications to any local authority for a licence.
• It is illegal for a driver to refuse to carry a guide or assistance dog unless the driver has a medical exemption certificate issued by the council.  Drivers that refuse to carry a guide or assistance dog and do not have an exemption certificate could face a fine of up to £1,000 following a conviction at the Magistrates Court.
• Are you currently receiving Universal Credit or Council Tax Benefit?  Do you currently have a claim in progress? If yes, and you are successful with your application, please contact Department for Work and Pensions and Breckland Council when you start work as your benefit entitlement may be affected.

Useful Links

• Share your DVLA driving licence information (opens new window)
• Update your DVLA Driving Licence address (opens new window)
• DBS Update Service (opens new window)
• D4Drivers Medical (opens new window)
• DVLA Group 2 Guidance for Medical Professionals (opens new window)
• Blue Lamp Trust Driving Assessment (opens new window)
• Norfolk Road Safety (opens new window)
• Right to Work Documents
• Blue Lamp Trust - Taxi and Private Hire Safeguarding Training - Classroom Course (opens new window)
• HMRC Tax Responisibilities (opens new window)