Taxi and private hire driver's licence

You need a driver's licence to work as a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle driver within one of our zones. If you want to work in both zones, you need to apply for a licence for each one.

You can apply for a licence to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle, or a combined licence to drive both.

A driver's licence costs £192.

There are extra charges for the Disclosure and Barring Service check, medical check, safeguarding awareness training and driver assessment. You'll pay for these separately.

Your vehicle must be licensed to drive in each zone too.

Apply for a licence

Read the Taxi Licensing Policy before you apply for a licence.

Choose the area where you'll be driving your taxi or private hire vehicle.

After you apply

Once you have applied and paid for your licence, you will need to complete the following tests and training.

Send us a copy of your certificates and completed forms.

Medical examination

Before we can give you a licence to drive a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle, we need to know that you are fit for this type of driving.

Ask your doctor to complete a medical examination form.

Criminal record check

We need to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to check if you have a criminal record. Once you have applied for your licence and paid for the application we will set you up for your DBS check.

Dorset Council Criminal Conviction Policy

Driver safeguarding awareness training

You must complete our Driver Safeguarding Awareness Training.

Driving assessment

You need a driving qualification such as a DSA Taxi test, PSV, HGV, CPC or advanced motorist test to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle.

Approved Driving Instructors

Brian Chidgey - Bournemouth and Christchurch - 07970 482431
Klaus Mayr - Christchurch and East Dorset - 07375 614377
Martin Shanley - Bournemouth and Christchurch - 07842 909144
Martyn Lock - Bridport and West Dorset - 07785 782567
Jeff Parsons - Weymouth and Chickerell - 07966 506626
Paul Gowing - Poole - 07949 084908
Dennis Griffin - Shaftesbury and Gillingham - 07714 323254
Aubrey Steele - Shaftesbury and Gillingham - 07703 543260
Gary Stickland - Shaftesbury and Gillingham - 07748 658718
John Nathan - Sherborne - 07851 193665

Knowledge test

We will ask you to take a knowledge test about the:

geography of the area
information in the Taxi Licensing Policy
Highway Code

We will only book you in for a knowledge test after you have paid for the application. If you have paid and no knowledge test has been booked, please phone us on the details below.

DVLA check

You will need to get a licence check code from GOV.UK and tell us the code. You will also need to provide us with a copy of your driving licence.

Tax check

You must let us know that you are up to date with paying tax. If you are a new driver, email us to confirm you are aware of keeping up to date with paying tax. If you are renewing your licence, complete a tax check on GOV.UK and provide us with your share code.

NR3 database search

When you have applied for your application we will do a search on you on the national database for taxi drivers. This will show if you have any history with any other councils.

Purbeck area

Download an application form. Once you've completed the form, send it to us.

East Dorset area

If this is your first time applying for a licence with us, you'll need to register for an account when you apply online.

If you are an existing customer, contact us to get an activation key to view your past applications, so you don't have to re-enter your details.

You pay for the licence when you apply.

Apply now for East Dorset

The rest of Dorset