Information and application forms to drive a Hackney Carriage

Persons who are in possession of a current Hackney Carriage Drivers licence can drive both Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles.

Application forms to obtain a licence are available from the Council offices and are on the website.

If you are not intending to work in Surrey Heath driving a vehicle licensed by this Council, your application should be submitted to the authority in the area which you are going to work.

All applicants must be over 21 and have held a full driver's licence issued by the DVLA or by a country in the European Union, for a minimum of twelve months.

The following documents must be submitted in addition to a completed application form before an application can be processed.

• A completed application form to obtain a criminal record disclosure. Criminal disclosures cannot be accepted from external agencies. Applications for such checks must be made through the Licensing Office.
• A completed medical certificate. An approved doctor from Park Road Surgery, Camberley, must carry out the medical examination. The relevant forms are available online or from the Licensing Office.
• A Driving Standards Agency (DSA) test certificate. Information on the DSA test is available online or from the Licensing Office.
• Two passport sized photographs
• The correct fee

Before a licence can be granted the applicant must pass a Hackney Carriage street knowledge test. A practice copy of the test is available to download. Maps to accompany the application can be collected from the Licensing Office.

Once the above requirements have be satisfied a decision will be taken as to whether the individual is deemed fit and proper to hold a licence. The policy guidelines of the Council in relation to the fitness of an applicant are available on this website.

General Licensing Information

Licences expire on the expiry date shown on the licence. The validity of the licence is not extended beyond the expiry date merely because an application to renew the licence has been submitted to the council. Drivers and proprietors should therefore ensure that applications to renew licences are submitted well before the current expiry date. The Council is not able to override this legal requirement. Every endeavour is made to renew licences even if applications are only submitted one or two days before the licence to be renewed is due to expire.
This is not always possible however, particularly if there has been a flood of last minute applications in respect of licences which all expire on the same day. This is of course, most likely to occur at the end of the month.

Drivers should notify the council immediately if they acquire any points on their driving licence, or they change their address. Drivers should return their badge to the Council upon renewal or if they stop working for a private hire operator.

Criminal Record Checks (CRB's) are required every three years, the council will send out courtesy reminders but it is the drivers responsibility to make sure their CRB form is sent off to give it enough time to come back before the badge expires. A CRB check must be valid for minimum of 10 months of the duration of the licence.

Medical examinations can last for up to three years, but this is dependent on the doctors' evaluation of the driver. Drivers over 65 years will be required to have a medical every year.