Existing private hire and taxi driver licence

Please read the Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy. It will tell you whether a new or replacement vehicle meets hackney carriage or private hire specification. If there are any reasons why your application may be refused, important things to check include:

• colour
• window tint
• emission standard and age
• internal and external condition

Vehicles that have been deemed to be an insurance "write off" (meaning in accident damage category A, B, C, or S) and or endorsed as being "accident damaged" on their V5 document will not be licensed. Licenced vehicles deemed to be an insurance "write-off" (meaning in accident damage category A, B, C, or S) and or have their V5 document endorsed as being 'accident damaged' will have their licence revoked but can be replaced with a like for like vehicle to the one that was deemed an insurance write off.

Currently all new applications for hackney carriage vehicle licences are required to be wheelchair accessible vehicles. Hackney carriage vehicles which are currently licensed can be replaced with a like for like vehicle, for example:

• wheelchair accessible vehicles (WAVs) can be replaced with another WAV which complies with current policy
• saloon vehicles (5 seats) can be replaced with another Saloon which complies with current policy
• multi passenger vehicles (MPVs) (more than 5 seats) can be replaced with another MPV which complies with current policy

Knowledge test

If you already have a private hire licence and would like to change to a hackney carriage or combined licence, you will apply for a knowledge test as part of your application to change the type of licence you hold to private hire, hackney carriage or combined.  

Renew your driver licence

Renew a private hire, hackney carriage or combined driver licence 

Annual declaration and convictions

Submit your annual declaration 

Report a motoring conviction, criminal conviction or caution 

Tell us about your licence

Change your address  

Change the type of licence you hold

Tell us what private hire operators the vehicle will be working for

Surrender a private hire, hackney carriage or combined driver licence

If you have a general enquiry:

Complete our contact us form 

Order replacements

Replace driver badges, record card or request additional record card

Replace your dash display wallet, docu-dash clip, lanyard, tariff card or plate bracket

Contact us

Contact the Licensing Team for advice on any licence or to make a complaint about a licensed business.

Phone: 01642 524802 

Email: licensing.administration@stockton.gov.uk 

Tacit consent

Tacit consent does not apply in respect of these applications. 

Tacit consent means that if we have not dealt with licence applications within the target period then the application can be deemed to have been granted or approved. 

It is in the public interest that we process your application before it can be granted. 

If you have not heard from us within 10 working days, contact us on 01642 524802 or licensing@stockton.gov.uk.

Refusals

If we refuse your application, you may be able to appeal this decision to the Magistrates' Court or First-Tier Tribunal.

Full details will be included in any refusal notice.