FAQs - Private hire and hackney carriage

Please read the guidance document on our new driver page.

You will need to submit your application online.

If your application is not complete or you have not paid we will not process the application.

The fees charged are displayed on our website. https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/business/licensing/private-hire-hackney-carriage-licensing/private-hire-and-hackney-carriage-fees

No. We will need to see you in person at a later stage but we will arrange this once we have your application documents.

You must obtain a number of documents in order to apply, such as an advance driving certificate, safeguarding course certificate,disability awareness certificate and a medical.

Once we receive an application we will process it as soon as we can. All applications are dealt with in order of receipt. Current processing times are approximately 12 weeks. In some instances we may need to interview you or your application must go to a committee hearing.

Once all stages of the process are complete we aim to issue a badge within 1 month.

Yes.

How we consider these matters is set out in Appendix B of our Policy. You can find our policy on our website and should read this.

All applications are considered on their own merits and you will have the opportunity to provide information and further detail to us so that we can decide your application fairly.

We cannot make a decision until you have made a complete application. In some instances we can provide an informal guide if you have a current DBS certificate that makes clear what your offence is.

No. The application fee is for us to process your application and consider whether to grant a licence. This is not refunded if you do not receive a licence.

Appendix B of our policy will give you an indication as to how we will consider convictions. You should read this. You may chose not to apply or alternatively instruct a solicitor.

We are happy to provide very limited advice to clarify our policy or to give you a rough idea how a conviction will be considered. Our view however will neither be an approval or refusal.

We can not determine whether to grant a licence without you having made an application and paid the fee. If we did so, we would be providing a free service to you at the tax payers expense, and removing your right to appeal our decision to the magistrates court.

No. As long as you have held your UK Driving Licence for at least 36 months and your medical examination is satisfactory.

No. Our online form will not let you apply unless you have been pre-approved by us. Generally we do not grant licences to anyone who has not held a DVLA licence for 3 years. There are some times when we will depart from this, for instance where a driver has been licensed to drive in another country which the UK government considers equivalent to the UK standard.

If you believe that you have grounds for us to depart from our policy you can email us and request that we consider exempting you from our policy.

Vehicle details are in Appendix C of our Policy and on our New Private Hire Vehicle and New-Hackney-Carriage-Vehicle-Licence pages.

We do not recommend that you purchase a vehicle before you have confirmed that it complies with our requirements.

The documents you need to provide to us are listed on the application form, website and our guidance document. We expect that you can remember what you submitted to us and that it is everything we require. It is always recommended that you keep a copy of your application.

We cannot provide updates over the phone due to data protection reasons. If it has been more than 12 weeks since you applied you should email us.

Due to demand our team answering the telephone do not have access to the back office systems and cannot look up your application. Please see the question and answer above.

We cannot give out updates over the phone due to data protection reasons. You should email us with your name, address, date of birth and a rough idea of when you applied.

If you applied less than 12 weeks ago we will not be able to prioritise a response to you.