Renew your taxi driver badge
Renewing your taxi driver badge
It is your responsibility to ensure that your renewal application is submitted before your current licences expires. We do not send any reminders. We recommend that you apply to renew your hackney carriage/private hire driver badge about a month before it is due to expire. If you aren’t already part of the DBS Update Service, your DBS check should be completed through Know Your People. We will send a link to complete the DBS check about a month before your current licence expires.
To renew your badge, you'll need:
- current DVLA photo card licence
- passport-sized photo (head & shoulders shot)
- driving licence report share your driving licence details (please ensure you supply your summary and not just the code. To obtain the summary, you must create a code first, then you’ll see a link underneath the code to print or save your summary.)
- DBS check (a link will be sent to you about a month before your badge is due to expire, from Know Your People). You must also now sign up to the DBS update service. If you are already part of the DBS Update Service, please make us aware when you apply to renew your licence.
- child sexual exploitation certificate (see below for how to book this if you haven't attended before) If you have completed this previously, you don’t need to attend again.
- proof of right to work in the UK, such as a British passport, residence permit or visa - if you are not a British citizen, you must also supply a right to work check code. More information on this is available on GOV.UK - Prove your right to work to an employer
- HMRC taxi driver tax check code. For more information about why we need this, and how to obtain your code, please visit complete a tax check for a taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence - GOV.UK
If you don't provide all of the above, your application will be delayed and may have to be rejected.
Renew your taxi drive badge online
Disclosure and Barring Service check
To renew your licence, you must agree to a criminal background check. This check will be carried out by our partner company, First Advantage (Know Your People). When you renew, First Advantage will send you a link to complete an online form via email. The email will come from Know Your People. It is important that all contact information provided to us is up to date and accurate to avoid unnecessary delays.
Under the Department for Transport’s Statutory Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Guidance, Licensing Authorities are required to ask Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers to carry out an enhanced DBS check every 6 months. To facilitate this, you must sign up to the DBS update service and store your DBS certificate safely in case we need to view it.
Child sexual exploitation (CSE) training
If you haven't already, you'll need to take the CSE training course with our training provider CYP First. You need to book the training and pay a fee.
Training availability
We currently run training approximately every 6 weeks. You must pay for your training as part of your renewal application. Failure to do so will delay, and may result in, the refusal of your application. We will contact you to advise you of the dates that are available.
Paying for training
Select Licensing from the list and then CSE Training from the last list.
Your driving licence
You need to share your driving licence details with us.
If you receive any penalty points from the DVLA, or are disqualified from driving, you must tell us within 7 days of receiving the points/disqualification.
Share your driving licence details
If you have 6 points or more on your licence, you will need to do a driving assessment. This assessment must be conducted through our Transport team. Once you have passed the assessment, let us know by email: taxilicensing@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk.
How to pay for your assessment
Pay online for your assessment
Select Licensing from the list and then driving assessment payments from the last list.
Once payment has been received, we'll contact you to arrange a date and time for your assessment.
Medical certificate
If you're over 45, you will need to have a medical check done by your GP every 5 years. If you're over 65, you need a medical check every year. You should keep a note of when your next medical check is due.
View or download medical certificate (PDF)
Conditions attached to Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Badges
View or download conditions (PDF)
Driver’s code of conduct (PDF)
Questions we're often asked
My licence has expired. Can I still renew it?
Unless there is an exceptional reason why you couldn’t renew on time, we're unlikely to accept your application. If there are exceptional circumstances, we assess each case individually. You may be asked to provide evidence to support your case. Please email taxilicensing@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk with your reasons and evidence for renewing late (response time may vary). Your reasons will be sent to the Head of Public Protection for consideration.
How do I apply to renew my licence?
You should apply via our website using our e-form. This can found near the top of this page.
What happens if I don’t supply all of the required documents with my renewal application?
If you fail to supply all of the document that we ask for, we will be unable to process your application. If these are not supplied by the time that your licence expires, we may refuse to renew your licence.
How do I know that my application has been received?
When you apply through our website, you should receive two emails. One will be a payment receipt. The other will be an acknowledgement of your application. It will give you an application reference number. For driver badge applications, the reference number starts with PAD. If you receive these emails, you can be sure that your application has been received.
What happens if I don’t receive an email with a reference number starting PAD?
If you do not receive an email with a reference number starting PAD, this means that your application has not be submitted. You should log back in via our website and resume your application, ensuring that you click the submit button at the end.
How long does it take to process my application?
Processing times vary depending on an officer’s caseload. Officers will endeavour to review your application as soon as they are able to.
How can I get an update on my application?
If you have supplied all of the required documents and received an email confirming your application reference number, you should not call the licensing team for an update. You can log back into your application and view if any comments have been made by the case officer. The case officer assigned to your application will contact you if anything is missing.
A document is missing from my application, how should I send this to you?
The best way to send this to us is to log back into your application and add the missing document to your case. This assists officers in locating any missing items that you have sent. By adding it directly to your case, you save your case officer time, meaning any delay is minimised.
Can I go to another medical practice to get my medical certificate signed?
Provided the examiner has full access to your medical records, we would accept your certificate. Your medical practitioner will be required to sign your certificate confirming that they have had access to your medical records.
What if I have already taken a child sexual exploitation course with another council?
If you got a certificate from CYP First, we'll accept this. Unfortunately, we won't accept anything else.
How do I apply for my DBS check?
We will send you a link to complete your DBS check about a month before your licence is due to expire. This will be emailed to you, using the email address that we hold on record for you. The email will come from Know Your People.
Do I need to complete a DBS check if I am part of the DBS Update Service?
If you have an Enhanced DBS certificate which states ‘other Workforce’ and either ‘Taxi Driver’, ‘PH Driver’ or ‘Taxi/PH Driver’ as the occupation and you are signed up to the DBS Update Service we should be able to accept your certificate. We will need to see your certificate and be able to complete the Update check.
I have a DBS certificate with another council; can I submit this as part of my renewal?
If you are signed up to the Disclosure Barring Service's update service and have registered an enhanced DBS certificate, which both:
- includes either "taxi driver" or "private hire driver" under occupation
- states "other workforce"
We will accept this.
How do I advise you that I have received DVLA penalty points or been disqualified from driving?
You should send an email to taxilicensing@centralbedfordshire.gov.uk advising us. Please ensure that you provide your DVLA summary at the same time. Share your driving licence details (please ensure you supply your summary and not just the code. To obtain the summary, you must create a code first, then you’ll see a link underneath the code to print or save your summary.)
Can I work without my driver badge?
No. You are required to wear your driver badge at all times when you are working as a hackney carriage/private hire driver. You should therefore allow plenty of time to receive your renewed licence by ensuring that you apply to renew a month before your current licence expires.