Private hire operator licence
By law you need to have a private hire operator licence to dispatch a private hire vehicle to a customer. An operator must make sure all vehicles and drivers have the necessary licences.
What you will need
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Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Basic check certificate.
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Tax check code www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence
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A credit or debit card to make payment.
- Your business must operate within the Forest of Dean District Council area.
Costs
Apply
Apply here for a new or renewal private hire operator licence. If your licence has expired, you’ll need to apply for a new licence at the full cost.
You can renew your licence at a reduced fee if you return the application form at least 7 days before your licence expires.
It is your responsibility to check the expiry date of your licence. We will not send you a reminder or any other documents.
We will not refund any licences.
Apply hereDisclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks
If you are also a licensed driver in our district, you will not need to provide a DBS check.
If you do need a DBS check, you can apply online. Enter the following details:
- organisation reference: COTSWOLD
- password: council
You’ll need to send us three types of ID to process your application. A full list of the valid ID types is available on GOV.UK.
You must also sign up to the DBS Online Update Service and send your certificate number to the licensing team. We will suspend your licence if you do not.
Our licensing sub-committee will consider any previous cautions or convictions when processing your application. Refer to our policy on convictions for more information.
Private hire operators must have written policies and procedures in place to ensure criminality (DBS) checks are undertaken on all booking and dispatch staff annually, and to set out its approach on employing staff that are ex-offenders.
Where a booking is outsourced the operator must ensure the third-party have adequate arrangements in place as outlined above. Please visit www.gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record to apply.
Proof of right to work
You’ll need to prove that you have the right to work in the UK. You’ll need to send us original documents for this check, please view the list of suitable IDs.
- If you have a permanent right to work within the UK, you will need to send ID from List A.
- If you have a period of 'leave' you will need to send ID from List B, Group 1 or Group 2, depending on which group applies.
We only need to do this check once if you have a permanent right to work. If you have a period of ‘leave’ we’ll need to check each time your licence is renewed.
We keep copies of the documents on file for audit purposes and for potential information sharing with the Home Office.