Taxi Licensing Information for Drivers, Proprietors and Operators

You are strongly advised to read this page and the attached documents, which will answer any questions that you may have. The Basic Taxi Licensing Guide and the Application Packs give full details as to what criteria you must meet before you book an appointment with the Licensing Officer.

Please read  the Basic Taxi Licensing Leaflet below, before contacting this office, as you must have obtained various qualifications before you will be considered as a suitable new applicant:

Guide to Taxi Licensing (132kB PDF)

All of the services provided by the Taxi Licensing Team will now be carried out by way of an appointment pre-booked with the Licensing Officers.

In order to ensure that you are able to obtain your licence in a timely manner, and for the Team to provide you with a high level of customer service, you are advised to note the new procedures that are now in place, and to ensure that you have brought with you to your appointment all of the relevant documentation required and payment for the fee that is due.

You will be sent a 'Reminder Letter' and an 'Application Pack' prior to the expiry of your current licence, giving you information as to what documentation that you must bring with you to your appointment, and the level of fee applicable. Payment must be made at your appointment with the Licensing Officer at St Aldate's Chambers, by way of Debit / Credit Card, Cheque or Postal Order.

Further details and the new Application Packs can be found by reading the information below.

Applying for a new licence or renewing an existing licence

You can download our basic guide to Taxi Licensing below:

Guide to Taxi Licensing (132kB PDF)

Please read the information below for a more comprehensive guide to becoming licensed in Oxford.

Important Information For New Applicants

Any person applying for the first time to Oxford City Council for a licence to drive Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicles should be aware that before coming to their appointment they must have obtained the following qualifications (if you do not have proof of either of the criteria below, your appointment will be terminated):

• Proof of passing the Driver Standards Agency Assessment for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles. To book your DSA Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Assessment either visit the Business Link website, or call 0300 200 1122, where you will be able to find full details as to whet the assessment consists of, and where the test will be held.

An introduction to the DSA Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Assessment can be downloaded below:
Introduction to DSA Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Assessment (114kB PPS)

• Proof of their competency in the English language (both written and oral) by means of a recognised Certificate. We are aware that not everyone will necessarily have a relevant qualification, or may not be able to find their Certificate. In order to assist you in meeting our criteria, please read the notes below:

a)    If you have a recognised qualification in the English Language, but cannot find your Certificate, please visit the National Consortium for Examination Results website where you will find information as to how to obtain duplicate certificates or a "Statement of Results".

b)    For persons who are already fully competent in the English Language but do not have a Certificate to prove their competency, you may wish to contact the Oxfordshire County Council Adult Learning: Skills for Life Centre in Blackbird Leys on 01865 797474 to find out how to undertake a short programme (minimum of nine hours tuition) aimed at native English speakers and fluent speakers of English who wish to brush up their English and Maths skills. Visit the Skills for Life pages of the Oxfordshire County Council website for further details.

c)    If you do not have any qualification in the English Language, you may wish to contact ESOL at Oxfordshire County Council Adult Learning on 01865 778827 to enrol in an English Language Course where you will be assessed as to your current level of competency, and informed of which course to enrol on, in order to become qualified. Visit the  Skills for Life pages of the Oxfordshire County Council website for further details.

d)    Alternatively, you may wish to make your own arrangements with a School of Languages of your choice, however, it is advisable to check the level of competency that you must attain.

Full details can be found within the Application Packs below.

Local Knowledge Test

The Hackney Carriage Knowledge Test

The test is devised so that applicants can prove that they have sufficient knowledge of the City of Oxford, the conduct required of licensed drivers and local traffic regulations. You are required to obtain a minimum mark of 80%.

The test contains six sections:

• Identification of roads and streets: 20 questions    
• Identification of buildings and locations: 15 questions    
• Rules and regulations: 10 questions    
• Correct routes: 5 questions    
• Equal opportunities awareness: 5 questions    
• Disability awareness: 5 questions    

Total: 60 questions    

A minimum of 80% in each section is required to pass the test. The test lasts for 90 minutes and sections C,E and F are multiple choice. This means that you are given a number of possible answers to each question and you must decide the correct answer.
If you fail the test you will be invited to take the test again after a further test fee has been paid, and then allocated a retest date.

Learning the knowledge

The City Council conducts the tests, it does not teach the knowledge, however to assist you a list of all rules and regulations and a summary of other law applicable to taxis and Private Hire vehicles, is set out below.

The Private Hire Knowledge Test

The test is devised so that applicants can prove that they have sufficient knowledge of the City of Oxford, the conduct required of licensed drivers and local traffic regulations. You are required to obtain a minimum mark of 80%.

The test contains five sections:

• Identification of roads and streets: 20 questions    
• Identification of buildings and locations: 15 questions    
• Rules and regulations: 5 questions    
• Equal opportunities awareness: 5 questions    
• Disability awareness: 5 questions   

Total: 50 questions    

A minimum of 80% in each section is required to pass the test. The test lasts for 90 minutes and sections C,E and F are multiple choice. This means that you are given a number of possible answers to each question and you must decide the correct answer.
If you fail the test you will be invited to take the test again after a further test fee has been paid.

Learning the knowledge

The City Council conducts the tests, it does not teach the knowledge, however to assist you a list of all the roads, streets and buildings you may be asked to identify, together with a copy of the rules and regulations and a summary of other law applicable to taxis and Private Hire vehicles, is set out below.

You will be asked the location of various buildings and roads in and around the City. You should ensure that you know where the following are:

Drivers

The drivers licence is commonly referred to as the 'badge'. A Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Drivers Licence is issued for a maximum period of 1 year.

In order to apply for a licence or to renew your current licence to drive a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle, you will need to download the Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Drivers Application Pack below. In order to complete your application, you will also need to call the Licensing Team on 01865 252115, and request that a Criminal Record Bureau Disclosure form be sent to your home address if required. 

Driver Application Pack (1.1MB PDF)
Driver Application Form (284kB PDF)
DVLA Mandate (447kB PDF)
Medical Report (180kB PDF)

Due to the high demand for applications, the Licensing Team operate an 'appointment system' for applicants to submit their fully completed application in person to an Officer.

Full details of the current criteria, conditions, and regulations relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire drivers, and the procedures and fees for applying for a new licence or to renew an existing drivers licence are contained within the Application Pack.

When assessing any application for a drivers licence, should the applicants CRB Disclosure check or DVLA check show any offences, cautions or convictions, the Licensing Officers will have regard to the Policy on the Relevance of Offences, Cautions and Convictions and the Guidelines Relating to the Relevance of Offences, Cautions and Convictions.

A copy of this Policy is included in the Application Pack, and can be downloaded below:

Policy on Relevance of Offences, Cautions and Convictions (436kB PDF)

Vehicles

The vehicle licence is commonly referred to as a 'plate'. A Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle Licence is issued for a maximum period of 1 year.

In order to apply for a licence or to renew your current licence as a proprietor of a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire vehicle, you will need to download the Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle Application Pack.

Vehicle Application Pack (458kB PDF)
Vehicle Application Form (219kB PDF)

Due to the high demand for applications, the Licensing Team operate an appointment system for applicants to submit their fully completed application in person to an Officer.

Full details of the current criteria, conditions, and regulations relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicles, and the procedures and fees for applying for a new licence or to renew, or to change an existing vehicle licence are contained within the Application Pack.

Currently all licensed vehicles must undergo a Certificate of Conformity twice each year. The test is undertaken at the Cowley Marsh Depot, Marsh Road, Cowley, Oxford, OX4 2HH (Tel: 01865 252946).

You will need to book your test with the depot no earlier than 28 days before the expiry of your vehicle licence, or 28 days prior to the 6 month interim inspection date. In order to avoid any problem in obtaining a test slot, you are advised to book your next test 6 months in advance, when you leave the depot.

Important Information for Proprietors

On 15 June 2009 the General Purposes Licensing Committee approved the adoption of the European Emissions Standards in the City, this regulation determines the maximum age for vehicles permitted to be licensed by this Authority. The current age limits for the licensing of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles is provided below, and in the Vehicle Application Pack.

New Vehicle Licences: Until 31 December 2012 any vehicle not already licensed by this Authority, in order to meet the current regulations, must not be older than 5 years of age at the date of the grant of the vehicle licence.

From 1 January 2013, further changes will come in to force, which will mean that any person applying for a new vehicle licence after that date, will need to obtain a vehicle that is no more that 3 years of age at the date of the grant of the vehicle licence.

Renewal of existing Vehicle Licences: From 1 January 2013, all vehicles submitted for a licence renewal will need to be Euro 4 Emissions compliant, which in effect means that any vehicle first registered prior to 1 October 2006 will not meet current regulations.

For further information relating to European Emissions standards please visit the European Commission website.

In order to provide proprietors with some clarity as to what vehicles are deemed to meet the current criteria, please download the Vehicle List below:

Vehicle List (27kB PDF)

Operators

The operator licence is issued to an individual or company that offers a service of pre-booking fares. A Private Hire Operators licence is issued for a maximum period of 1 year.

In order to apply for a licence or to renew your current licence as a Private Hire Operator, you will need to download the Private Hire Operator Application Pack below:

Operator Application Pack (543kB PDF)
Operator Application Form (159kB PDF)

New applicants will need to complete the application form and make an appointment with the Licensing Team. Existing Operators are able to submit their application to renew their licence by post.

If an Operator is not already licensed as a driver with this authority then the applicant will have to have a Standard Criminal Record Bureau Disclosure check carried out.

Equality Act 2010

Download the document below to find out how the Equality Act 2010 affects Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle drivers:

Equality Act 2010 (25kB PDF)

Contact Us

Licensing Team, Oxford City Council, St Aldate's Chambers, 109 St Aldate's, Oxford, OX1 1DS.
Tel: 01865 252115
Fax: 01865 252115
Email: taxilicensing@oxford.gov.uk

Page last reviewed 14 May 2012