Taxis and private hire

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS)

Applicants are required to have read the DBS Enhanced Check Privacy Policy before making an application and applicants will be asked to declare they have read and understood how the DBS will process their personal data on their application form.

The Council strongly encourages all licensed drivers to sign up to the DBS Update Service as it makes the driver renewal process easier.

Please read and/or download the Revised Code of Practice for Disclosure and Barring Service Registered Persons prior to your application.

Please see our The Licensing Partnership Policy statement on the secure storage, handling, use, retention and disposal of Disclosures and Disclosure Information.

All applications for a new licence or licence renewal will automatically be checked on the national register of revocations and refusals (NR3). You can find out more information on our NR3 page.

Before Applying

On this page you will find information you require to either renew or apply for a taxi, vehicle or operator licence. We have a statutory duty to licence all:

• Hackney carriages
• Private hire vehicles
• Operators
• Drivers

These powers are granted under two acts. The Town Police Clauses Act 1847 and the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions Act) 1976.

If you're planning to be a taxi driver, you should read through our Licensing Policy. This'll give you information on what you can and can't do, and what you're entitled to as a driver.

Fees

Find our current fees on our Hackney carriage and private hire fees page.

Apply for a new licence

Before you start

To apply for a Hackney, Private Hire or Dual drivers licence you must:

• Have held a full UK driving licence or acceptable non-UK driving licence for at least a year
• Have passed our test

Before taking the test

You must provide evidence demonstrating your right to work in the taxi and private hire sector.

If you don't you can't take the test.

The test

You need to correctly answer questions on:

• Customer care
• Our Taxi Licencing Policy
• The Highway Code and
• Your knowledge of Maidstone including places of interest, roads and journeys found in the sample Bank of Routes.

If you're applying to be a Hackney or Dual driver you'll also need to know the Byelaws.

Routes

The Bank of Routes is only a sample of the routes that may come up in the test. It doesn't have all of them. It's your responsibility to ensure your knowledge of Maidstone is broad enough to pass that part of the test. We encourage you to read through our frequently asked questions, study a map or local A-Z.

For the period 1 December 2021 - 3 May it has been agreed that the routes and streets element of the test will be removed for all new private hire driver applicants.

Booking the test

Contact Sevenoaks District Council on 01732 227001, make payment of £35 and then email your receipt to our Licensing Team. One of our Licensing Officers will contact you to confirm the date and time of your test. If you fail the test three times you won't be allowed to resit the test again for six months. This is to give you more time to develop your knowledge to the level needed to pass the test.

Each test has 63 randomly picked questions (except for private hire applicants for the period between the 1 December 2021 - 3 May 2022). To pass you must score 100% in the compulsory category and 80% in all the other categories except for private hire applicants who must score 100% in the compulsory category, 90% in the highway code category and 80% in the remaining categories.

Information booklet - hackney, dual and private hire knowledge test

After the test

After successfully completing the test you'll need to complete the following:

• DVLA check code obtain form
• a medical form
• a Driving Standards Assessment (DSA) test with either:
  • Blue Lamp Trust
  • Green Penny
  • TG Training
  • Drive Tech
• ID checklist
• Register for the DBS Update Service
• EQUO test

Apply for a new taxi licence

You will need to make an appointment with us to complete your DBS application, please email us to request an appointment.

If you're applying for a Hackney or Dual licence you'll also need to take a wheelchair test with:

• Blue Lamp Trust
• Green Penny

We check all drivers are medically fit, have a thorough knowledge of Maidstone and are fit enough to hold a licence. We also check all licensed vehicles on a regular basis to make sure they are safe. All licensed vehicles have a licence plate which must be fixed to the back and drivers are given a photographic ID card which must be worn at all times while driving.

How long does the licence last

New licences are issued for three years. We can issue a yearly badge in the first year of applying if requested. Yearly licences can also be given on medical grounds.

Renew your taxi licence

Existing licensed drivers must apply to renew their licence a minimum of 14 days before it expires. Not doing so may mean you have to apply as a new applicant instead.

You must give us your completed medical examination within six weeks of making your renewal application.

To renew your licence you'll need to complete the following:

• A medical form
• DVLA check code obtain form
• DBS Update Service
• ID Checklist
• EQUO test

You can apply online using our online application form.

Renew your taxi licence

You must also make an appointment with a member of the licensing team to complete the following:

• A DBS application to check if you have any criminal convictions, unless you've signed up to their update service
• Our DVLA mandate

Once you're ready to make your application please email licensing@maidstone.gov.uk or call 01622 602000 to make an appointment to meet with an officer.

How long does the licence last

Licences may be issued for up to three years depending on your immigration status and/or medical history. Each application is dealt with on its own merits.

Apply for a vehicle licence

Before applying for a licence, you must read our Taxi Licensing Policy and Our licence fees.

Please note: A temporary change to policy at the 13 October 2022 licensing committee. A pilot scheme was agreed for a period of 12 months only which allowed an increase to the maximum age for new hackney carriage and private hire vehicles from three years to four years, with a maximum mileage restriction of 60,000, also for private hire vehicles can be licensed for up to eight years.

You will also need to supply your:

• vehicle registration document/log book (V5C)
• insurance certificate
• your insurance must allow you to apply for either a taxi driver or private hire operator licence

Your vehicle will need to be booked in for a compliance test. To book this contact Johnsons Garage on 01580 890378 Or Marshams Garage and MOT Centre on 01622 200100.

Apply for a licence

How long does the licence last

New licences are issued for one year, and are renewed yearly.

Tariffs

Tariff one

This tariff applies from 6am to 12am.

On 24 December and 31 December up to 6pm tariff one applies.

Tariff two

For hirings between midnight and 6am and all day Sunday and Bank Holidays 50% above tariff one rate except where tariff three applies. From 6pm to midnight on 24 December and 31 December tariff two applies.

Tariff three

For hirings between midnight 24 December and 6am on 27 December tariff three applies and midnight on 31 December and 6am on 2 January 100% above tariff one rate.

Extra charges

For vehicles hired by more than two passengers, an extra 10p per person will be charged.

Fares for time

If a hackney carriage is hired by time the fare will be agreed with the customer at the time of the hiring.

Taximeter

Apart from extra charges covered in the tables above, drivers are not allowed to charge more than the fare displayed on the taximeter.

Contamination fee

An additional £50 will be charged if a passenger or animal has soiled or fouled in a hackney carriage during the journey.

Apply for a private hire operator licence

If you want to provide pre-booked work for example airport transfers, hen/stag nights etc, you'll need a private hire operator licence.

If you're planning to run the business from home, you may also need to apply for planning permission. For more information about planning, visit our Planning for Business pages.

Before applying for a licence, you must read our Taxi Licensing Policy.

Apply Online

Before making your application you must read the DBS enhanced check privacy policy

If you already hold a current taxi driver licence you can make the application without this.

How long does the licence last

New licences are issued for one year and are renewed yearly.

Apply for a private hire licence

Other ways of applying

Apply by post

You'll need to download our guidance notes to drivers and fill in the private hire, hackney carriage or dual driver licence application form and send it to:

Apply in person

Please call 01622 602000 to book an appointment to see one of our Licensing Officers in The Link in King Street. They'll also be able to answer any queries that you may have about your application.