FAQs - Private hire and hackney carriage

Please read the guidance document on our new driver page.

You will need to email a complete and full application by email to licensing.taxis@hertsmere.gov.uk and pay the fee. Alternatively you can post the application to us or hand it deliver it.

If your application is not complete or you have not paid we will return the application. We do not offer a service of checking your documentation - where possible we will provide clear advice as to why an application is rejected so that you can re-submit.

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 can simply send your application to us by email or post if you wish.

This varies but is largely within your control. You must obtain a number of documents in order to apply, such as an advance driving certificate, safeguarding course certificate and a medical.

Once you have made a completed application we aim to determine it within 1 month. In some instances we may need to interview you or your application must go to a committee hearing.

Yes.

How we consider these matters is set out in Appendix B of our Policy. You can review the Policy on the assessment of the criminal convictions, conduct and behaviour of individuals (PDF, 325KB).

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.

Vehicle details are in Appendix C of our Policy. Further details are also 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 our listed on the application form and our guidance document. You are expected to know if you provided us with everything required. It is always recommended that you keep a copy of your application.

If you first applied prior to 1 January 2025 and have provided all documents to us we aim to get back to you within 1 month of the final document being received. If you have not heard from us within 1 month please email licensing.taxis@hertsmere.gov.uk. to ensure that we have all the documents.

If you applied after the 1 January 2025 we aim to respond to completed applications within 2 months. If you have not heard from us within 2 months of your application being completed please 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.