Taxi and Private Hire Car Drivers

Anyone driving a taxi or private hire car must have the appropriate type of driver’s licence from the Council. Taxi drivers’ licences also cover private hire car driving, but private hire car drivers’ licences do not permit the holder to drive taxis. Further information and application forms are available from the 'Related Downloads' section of this page.

On this page is all the information you will require to apply for a taxi or private hire car driver's licence.

HMRC Tax Checks

From 2 October 2023 in Scotland, applicants for taxi or private hire car drivers' licences need to complete tax checks with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).

New applicants require to confirm that they are aware of their tax responsibilities.

Applicants for renewal require to provide a valid Tax Check Code as part of their application. If this is not provided, the Council cannot process the application.

Information about the requirements is shown in the HMRC Tax Check Factsheet, the Guidance Notes and the application form, published from the Related Downloads section of this page.

Equality Act 2010 Amended

The Equality Act 2010 as amended by the Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 contains provisions requiring drivers and operators of all taxis and private hire cars to provide carriage for and assistance to disabled passengers.

Details of the provisions are shown in the Vehicle Drivers Operators Equality Requirements Publication published from the Related Downloads section of this page.  

Immigration Act 2016 and EU Settlement Scheme

• Every person applying for a taxi or private hire car driver’s licence for the first time and
• Every applicant, whether for grant or renewal of a taxi or private hire car driver’s licence, who has immigration restrictions on his/her right to work
  
  must provide evidence of his/her right to work in the UK.

Details of the evidence required are shown in the Vehicle Driver Guidance and Vehicle Driver Application Form published from the Related Downloads section of this page.

Applications for taxi or private hire car drivers' licences which require evidence of the applicant's right to work in the UK can only be accepted at a personal interview prearranged by the applicant with Licensing staff. All necessary documentation must be checked in the applicant's presence, copied and returned to him/her during the interview.

If you require further information about this topic and would like to arrange an appointment, please contact the Licensing Team, Legal Services, on telephone: 01856873535 extensions 2229 or 2232 (voice mail available) or via email.

An online application form is available below, but applicants must read the Guidance Notes before making an application.