Assessing an application for a taxi driver licence
To get a taxi driver licence (TDL) you need to pass the theory and practical taxi driver tests or have finished the necessary periodic training, send a medical if needed, a criminal records check, provide your HMRC tax code, and have the right to work in the UK.
Guidelines for assessment
When assessing your application, the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) has a set of guidelines which it has to apply to make sure that there is a consistent approach.
The guidelines are based on the following criteria, that you:
- have held a full Category B (car) driving licence continuously for at least three years immediately before applying
- meet the necessary good repute rules
- meet the necessary medical rules
- have the right to work in Northern Ireland
If you are renewing your taxi driver licence you must provide evidence that you are registered with HMRC for tax purposes, and you must also have finished the necessary periodic training before you send your application or it will be rejected.
See below for more information:
HMRC tax check
If you need to renew your taxi driver licence or it expired less than 12 months ago, you’ll need a HMRC tax code when applying online to renew your licence.
To get a code, you will need to fill in a tax check online at the following link: Complete a tax check for a taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence
DVA will not be able to accept your taxi driver licence application until you’ve carried out this tax check.
Car driving licence
Before you apply for a taxi driver’s licence you must have held a full Category B (car) driving licence continuously for at least three years. If you do not hold a Northern Ireland driving licence, email your contact details to DVA at the email address in the link below for advice and guidance.
Taxi driver theory test and practical test
If you are applying for the first time or renewing your taxi driver licence more than two years after expiry, you will have to pass both the taxi driver theory and practical tests before an application will be accepted for consideration.
Read more about the tests in section five of 'Taxi Manual - all you need to know to be a taxi driver'
Criminal record check
Before you begin your taxi driver licence application you will need to apply for an enhanced disclosure certificate (EDC) through AccessNI.
Your identity will be verified and your AccessNI application processed in line with AccessNI Code of Practice.
AccessNI will ask you for a Personal Identification Number (PIN) which is 538528 and it can only be used for an EDC for taxi driver licensing.
This certificate details any convictions or other relevant information which may stop you getting a taxi driver’s licence.
Having a criminal record may but won't necessarily stop you from holding a taxi driver’s licence.
DVA will make sure that any information contained with your Certificate including any convictions or other relevant information is processed in line with its licensing criteria and policy on recruitment of ex-offenders.
The online process should flow like this:
- apply to AccessNI for an EDC
- note the reference number of your EDC application
- start your taxi driver application
- enter the AccessNI reference number when asked
- send your taxi driver application
DVA’s Passenger Transport Licensing Division (PTLD) will then verify your application for an EDC check and AccessNI will begin to process it.
When your AccessNI check is finished, if you have no criminal history, you’ll receive a digital disclosure certificate.
If the certificate shows a criminal history you’ll receive a printed certificate by post. This should be sent to DVA’s Passenger Transport Licensing Division:
The EDC will only be returned if you send a prepaid self-addressed envelope. If no prepaid envelope is provided, it will be securely destroyed on your behalf.
If you have lived outside the UK for more than three months, DVA needs you to provide a Certificate of Good Conduct from each country you have lived in.
The documents needed for your AccessNI check may differ to those which support your right to work in the UK.
For more information about the AccessNI process and how to apply online go to:
To find out how personal information you send to AccessNI will be handled when using this service, go to:
Good repute
By law, all taxi drivers need to be ‘fit and proper’ people to hold licences.
Having a criminal record won't necessarily stop you from holding a taxi driver’s licence.
However, if you have been convicted of a serious offence you may not qualify to hold a licence until at least three years have passed since the date of conviction or, in cases where there is a custodial sentence, release from prison.
Each conviction is considered on its own merit taking account of the penalty imposed and any mitigating reasons.
Some examples of serious convictions relate to offences for drugs, firearms or explosives, burglary, fraud, sexual offences or any offence involving violence such as wounding or assault, common assault, threats to kill or harassment.
Health and medical reports
When you're applying, you must give details of any health condition likely to affect your fitness as a driver of a taxi.
You'll need a medical report from your GP if you are a first time applicant or if you have declared any medical conditions. A medical report will be sent to you by DVA by post once you have filled in an online application.
You may contact DVA Passenger Transport Licensing Division (PTLD) by email and ask for a medical report to be sent before you make your online application.
See the link below for DVA’s PTLD email address:
If you already have a licence the DVA will send you an email reminder about four months before your licence is due to expire. If you are renewing your licence and are over 45 years of age a medical report will be sent to you along with your taxi driver reminder.
You should apply for your licence as soon as you receive this notification to avoid any delay.
If you’ve a medical condition which may need additional tests, for example, if you have a heart condition and need to do a treadmill test, you can also ask for a medical report to be sent to you early by contacting the DVA – Passenger Transport Licensing Division.
Medical reports can only be accepted if they're signed and dated by your GP no more than four months before the date of expiry of your licence.
Your medical report must be filled in by a doctor and you should make sure that all the relevant questions are answered. The doctor will normally charge you for filling in the form. This fee is non-refundable if your taxi driver licence is rejected/ refused.
If your medical report is filled in by a medical professional other than your own doctor and they don’t have access to your full medical records, your GP may be asked to give further information. This can delay your application.
Depending on your medical condition, your medical report may have to be referred to 3fivetwo Healthcare or you may have to undergo further medical checks. A decision can’t be made on your licence application until all medical checks have been finished.
Right to work
When applying for a taxi driver’s licence you must have a right to work within the UK. The Department for Infrastructure has to be satisfied that you have a right to work in the UK before a licence can be given.
If you were born within the United Kingdom or Ireland you must provide either a passport or birth certificate. Birth certificates must be accompanied by evidence of your National Insurance number and photographic identification which displays your home address.
If you were born outside of the United Kingdom or Ireland you must provide a Home Office share code as evidence of right to work.
Periodic training
If you are renewing a taxi driver’s licence you must have finished 35 hours of taxi driver periodic training at date of application or it will be rejected.
The training must have been delivered by a training provider approved by the Department for Infrastructure (DfI) for this purpose and at least three and a half hours must have been Disability Awareness training.
Only approved courses taken at approved training centres will count towards periodic training. It will be up to you to decide which courses to do.
How to find training courses
Further details on courses and how to apply can be found on the Joint Approvals Unit for Periodic Training (JAUPT) website.