Taxi/private hire car drivers
See:
A driver's licence is for the person who will be driving the car/vehicle.
(An operator's licence is required for the vehicle being used as a taxi/private hire car)
From 2 October 2023 there are additional requirements which must be complied with before we can consider an application:
- new applicants must confirm to us with their application that they are aware of information provided by HMRC
- renewal applicants must provide with their application a tax check code obtained from HMRC
We will use the code to verify with HMRC that the applicant has completed their tax check. Please see accompanying notes for more details and relevant links.
Taxi/Private Hire Drivers may be interviewed by Police Scotland as part of their assessment of your fitness as a "fit and proper person" to hold a licence.
New taxi/Private Hire Drivers will require to obtain a completed Medical Assessment Form by a Doctor which complies with DVLA Group 2 standards. The Medical Assessment Form must be completed and submitted along with the application or we will not be able to accept the application for processing. The Medical Assessment Form can be found with the Application Form for a Taxi/Private Hire Driver Licence.
Taxi Drivers have to sit a knowledge test of the zone in which they wish to operate, but Private Hire Drivers do not.
If there are no objections, and/or representations, to your application then it can be dealt with under delegated authority by the Director of Legal and Democratic Services. However, if there are valid objections and/or representations, your application will be submitted to the Council’s Civic Licensing Committee for consideration and determination by elected councillors.
As required by section 13(3) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, a licensing authority shall not grant a licence to any person unless that person has held, throughout the period of 12 months immediately prior to the date of the application, a licence authorising them to drive a motor car. In order to satisfy this requirement, the licensing team may ask you to share driving licence information held by the DVLA.
Please note that drivers aged 45 or over will require to submit a medical certificate on first renewal and thereafter every six years. Drivers aged 65 or over will require to submit annual medical certificates.
Four licensed zones within Angus
Both drivers and operators will be asked to apply for one zone in their application. Each driver/operator must either uplift or drop off passengers within the zone for which they are licensed. The zones are:
- Arbroath/Carnoustie
- Forfar/Kirriemuir
- Montrose/Brechin
- Monifieth /Sidlaw
New drivers will be asked to pass a knowledge test of their zones.
Immigration Act 2016
Since 1 December 2016, Angus Council has been under a legal duty not to grant a taxi driver or private hire car (PHC) driver licence to any person unless a check has first been made to verify that the person is not disqualified by reason of his or her immigration status from holding such a licence.
All applicants for new and renewal taxi or PHC driver licences require to bring original documents demonstrating that they have the right to work in the UK to an arranged appointment. All applicants must attend the appointment in person. Licensing staff must check the validity of the original documents in the presence of the applicant before the application can be processed and the licence issued at a later date. The council will retain copies.
View a list of the acceptable original documents to be brought to the appointment on pages 43, 44 and 45 of the Home Office's Employer’s guide to right to work checks.
When arranging your appointment please email LawLicensing@angus.gov.uk.
Timescales
There is a minimum statutory period of 28 days to allow Police Scotland to carry out their checks. From the date of your application, the council has a period of nine months to either grant or refuse your application.
| Licence | Duration | Fee for grant | Fee for renewal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxi/Private Hire Car Driver (for new licences and drivers over the age of 65) | 1 year | £136 | £115 |
| Taxi/Private Hire Car Driver (for renewals of licences where drivers are under the age of 65) | 3 years | n/a | £289 |
If you have any queries, please contact the Licensing Section on LawLicensing@angus.gov.uk.
The Licensing Team are able to provide general guidance on licensing administration but cannot assist you to complete your application form or provide legal advice on whether a licence is required. You should seek legal advice from a solicitor or advice centre if you are unsure as to whether you require a licence.