Hackney carriage and private hire driver licences
Contents
Apply for a driver licence
If you fail to apply for the renewal of your licence in time, you will be committing an offence if you drive a licensed vehicle once your driver’s licence expires and you are not yet issued with a new one.
The fact that a late application has been submitted does not authorise you to drive a vehicle licensed by us.
You can log back in and return to a previously started form at a later stage.
The fee payable on application is set by us and may be revised from time to time.
You'll be asked to provide:
- all details of any Hackney Carriage, Private Hire and Dual Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence you currently hold (or previously held) and of any refusals, suspensions and revocations
- if you are applying to be a driver of a private hire vehicle, all details of the person or operator who is willing to provide employment to you as a driver. This must be an operator based in North Northamptonshire
- all details of Cautions and Orders received (not required for renewals if there is no change since your last application)
- all convictions for offences connected with motor vehicles and road traffic, including parking offences (not required for renewals if there is no change since your last application)
- all other fixed penalty notices received (not required for renewals if there is no change since your last application)
- all convictions for offences of any kind, not connected with motor vehicles but including theft of motor vehicles or taking motor vehicles without consent (not required for renewals if there is no change since your last application)
- details of all outstanding Charges or Summons awaiting a Court Hearing (not required for renewals if there is no change since your last application)
Processing
Once submitted we will verify and process your application, which will include a check of your details against those held on a national database known as NR3. This national register holds details of Taxi Licence refusals and revocations on a nationwide basis. The NR3 database is hosted by the National Anti-Fraud Network.
The information provided in your application may be shared with other agencies for the prevention and detection of fraud.
Your conduct in making the application may be used in consideration of whether you have acted with integrity during the application process (e.g. if you make a false declaration or withhold any other relevant information that would reasonably be expected to be disclosed, this may be considered dishonest and the application may not be looked on favourably).
Officers of the Council have delegated power to issue a licence if satisfied that you are a fit and proper person to hold a Drivers Licence.
If an officer, having reviewed your application, is unable to issue the licence under delegated powers, the application will be referred to the next available Licensing Sub-Committee to make a decision. You will be advised of the reasons, date, time and venue of the committee meeting where the application will be considered.
If a licence is granted, we will contact you to arrange collection of your licence and badge.
Any person aggrieved if we refuse a licence, or by any conditions attached to it, may appeal to a Magistrates’ Court within 21 days of notification by the council.
Last updated 11 May 2023