Taxis and private hire​ driver licences

If you want to become a licensed driver with Colchester City Council you will need to:

• be entitled to work in the United Kingdom and be able to prove your immigration status
• have a National Insurance number
• write and speak English
• have held a UK (or equivalent) drivers licence for at least 3 years, and have a valid UK drivers licence
• register with HMRC to pay tax

Before you apply

If you have ever had any criminal convictions or motoring offences, contact us at licensing.team@colchester.gov.uk.

Certain offences or multiple driving offences will exempt you from being granted a licence. Telling us in advance means we can give guidance as to whether you are likely to be granted a licence and avoid application costs should you not be eligible.

Have you passed the following tests and training

• Taxi driver language examination: International Language Centre, Colchester
  English courses for adults - call 01206 544422 or email
• Taxi driver knowledge test: International Language Centre, Colchester
  English courses for adults - call 01206 544422 or email: colchester@ilcentres.com
• Safeguarding training:The Blue Lamp Trust
• Hackney carriage and private hire driver assessment:Blue Lamp Trust, Institute of Advanced Motorists and Diamond Advanced Motorists provide the training.
• Group 2 Medical examination: Download the Group 2 medical and fitness to drive form and take to your medical provider to complete. The medical can be carried out by your own GP, or Drivers Medicals, D4 Drivers, Drive2medicals.
• Obtain an enhanced DBS certificate and DVLA licence checks via Taxiplus.
  
  You must also sign up to the DBS update service. This can take several months to complete, and you may want to apply to Taxiplus as soon as you have passed your Taxi driver language and knowledge tests.

Complete the driver application form

• To complete the application form you need to set up an online account and apply online.
• You need to provide a passport-style photograph and all the supporting documents in a jpg or pdf format.
• We will arrange an appointment with you to verify your identity and right to work documentation.

We are obliged to check all applications for a driver's licence on the National Taxi Register of Refusals, Revocations and Suspensions (NR3S) and to record details on the NR3S of any refusal, revocation and/or suspension relating to safeguarding or road safety concerns.

Renewing your licence

Your driver licence is valid for three years from the date we granted it.

You need to renew your licence before the current licence expires. If your licence expires, you will need to apply as a new driver, and you won't be able to work until we issue you with a new licence.

We will send you a reminder and details of how to renew your driver licence, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you renew on time.