Guidance notes: Applying to drive a Hackney Carriage vehicle

These guidance notes explain the process of applying to drive a Hackney Carriage vehicle.

An applicant must have be 21 or older and have held a full DVLA driving licence for at least 12 months prior to the date of application.

What you need to do to get your licence

All new applicants must:

• Pass a verbal local 'Knowledge' test and a test on the byelaws of the licence. (See Sample questions)
• Pass a verbal test on Human Trafficking/Exploitation of Vulnerable Persons and Dementia
• Pass HDC Taxi/Private hire driving assessment test and produce the pass certificate to the Council.
• Pass a Group 2 medical with your GP (forms supplied by the Council).
• Pass the Taxi Safeguarding Course, supplied online by The Blue Lamp Trust or by West Sussex County Council. Once you have completed the course you will be required to submit the certificate to the Council that will be electronically sent to you.
• Produce passport, driving licence, birth certificate and recent utility bill or credit card statement or bank statement.
• Complete a Criminal Records Bureau enquiry form (forms supplied by the Council). The fee of £44 must be paid to the Council by the applicant. Produce passport, driving licence, birth certificate and recent utility bill or credit card statement or bank statement.  You will be required to sign up to the DBS update service within 30 days of date on the DBS certificate and supply to the Council your update number as stated in Licensing Policy.
• Supply details of two non-related referees of standing or ex employer.
• Complete a DVLA Fair Data Processing (form supplied by the council) fee for this is £17.25 must be paid to the council by applicant.
• Pay a fee of £356.00 for the licence and £44 for the Criminal Records Disclosure and £17.25 for the DVLA check

Fees

The fee for a 3 year licence is £356 on first application, which does not include a £35-00 (non-refundable) fee for the licence Byelaw test. A fee of £44 for the Disclosure and Barring Service Disclosure must be paid to the Council on the day of your test in addition to the licence fee together with a fee of £17.25 for the DVLA Data Protection Mandate check.

Apply and prepare for your test

Complete the Hackney Carriage driver application form.

Return your application form and a £35.00 (non-refundable) fee for the tests, which must be paid by cheque.

Print off the licence byelaws and the Dementia and Human Trafficking guidance from the website that you must learn.

When you have prepared yourself adequately for the Knowledge, byelaw and Human Trafficking test contact the licensing office to book an appointment to take the tests.

What to do you on your test day

On the day of the tests, please bring with you your remittance for £356.00, £44 and £17.25 which can be paid by one cheque or by card.

As a requirement of the Disclosure and Barring Service you will be asked to produce your passport, driving licence and birth certificate together with proof of current address such as a recent utility bill or credit card statement or bank statement.

When the knowledge and byelaw tests have been passed you will be asked to complete the Disclosure and Barring Service enquiry form and produce your passport, driving licence and birth certificate together with proof of current address such as a recent utility bill or credit card statement or bank statement. At the same time you must complete a DVLA Data Protection mandate form you will be given a medical form to arrange your medical and directions to our website for information on how to book your driving test.

Produce or email in your pass certificate for completing the Safeguarding Course with The Blue Lamp Trust.

The licensing office is open from 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday on an appointment only basis.

Cheques should be made payable to Horsham District Council.

If you apply and do not book a conditions test within 6 months from date of application it will be deemed void and you will need to re-apply and pay a new fee.

If you do attend on the arranged date of test your application will be void and you will need re-apply and pay new fee.

If you require any further information about the procedure, please contact the licensing office on 01403 215471/ 215488.

Sample questions

Before a Hackney Carriage driver's badge is issued the applicant must undergo a two part test.

The first test is on local road knowledge based on taking the shortest route from A to B.

Example: "What route would you take from Horsham Railway Station to Nymans Close" Answer: "Right out of the station over the bridge into Kings Road. Take the Rusper Road at the roundabout and continue up to Giblets Way. Round into Leamington Way and Nymans Close is second right".

The second test is based on the byelaws of the licence and human trafficking, dementia and applicants will need to refer to the byelaws and Human Trafficking, dementia attached to the application form.

Links to further guidance

Hackney Carriage licence byelaws

HDC Taxi/Private hire driving assessment test

Disclosure and Barring Service

Human Trafficking/Exploitation of Vulnerable Persons and Dementia

Book your Driver Assessment test

Contact the Licensing team

If you require any further information about the procedure, please contact the licensing office on 01403 215471/ 215488.