Taxi driver licence

A licence is required by any person wishing to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle. We must only grant a hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence to a person who is fit and proper and who has been authorised to drive a car for at least 12 months.

What will it cost?

• new licence (3 years) - £445
• new licence (1 year) - £255
• renewal of licence (3 years) - £300
• renewal of licence (1 year) - £135
• Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) - £49.50

Find out more about taxi fees and fares

How do I pay?

Pay online for your licence

For all other areas, contact us to pay in person or over the phone, please note we do not accept cash payments.

Whichever payment method you use, please use your licence number, if renewing, and your full name as the reference and let us know you have paid.

Restricted driver licences

A modified test is available for applicants seeking to obtain a restricted private hire driver licence solely for the purpose of fulfilling school and social care contracts agreed between private hire operators and North Yorkshire Council. Drivers holding a restricted licence are not permitted to provide any other type of service.

How to apply

Fill in and return the correct application form:

•  application for initial grant or renewal of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s licence (docx / 103 KB)
•  application for initial grant or renewal of a Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s licence (pdf / 279 KB)
• provide evidence of passing a written knowledge test delivered by us.  Read our guidance on the knowledge test (pdf / 278 KB), or find out information on courses to improve your English language

Along with a complete application form, applicants must:

• pay the requisite fee as set out above
• produce their full driving licence issued by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency
• provide a suitable digital photograph (taken or approved by a member of the licensing authority)
• provide documentation confirming their right to work in the UK
• provide an enhanced criminal record check from the Disclosure and Barring Service and subscribe to the DBS Update Service (if the licence has not been determined within four months of the issue date shown on the disclosure certificate, a further criminal record check must be obtained unless the applicant has subscribed to the Update Service)
• provide a certificate of good conduct (only if the applicant has lived overseas for a period of six months or more in the 10-year period leading up to the date of application)
• provide a medical assessment to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency's Group 2 standards carried out no more than one month prior to the date of application -  download our medical form (pdf / 4 MB)
• complete a written knowledge test delivered by us - you will be provided further information on how to complete this once your application has been received
• provide a certificate to confirm the applicant has undertaken a practical driving assessment, safeguarding training and disability awareness training from a provider approved by us

We provide information for the national register and carry out searches of NR3 in order to assess whether an individual is a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage or private hire driver licence.