Taxi licensing
The Council is responsible for setting hackney carriage fares (PDF File, 208kb) and for issuing licences to individuals who wish to drive either private hire cars or hackney carriages. We also licence vehicles and private hire operators.
Licensing provides a visible assurance to the public that:
- the vehicle has been checked for safety
- the driver has been checked medically, and is a fit and proper person to hold a licence
Newark and Sherwood District Council Taxi Policy 2023 (PDF File, 1,364kb)
Download a list of licensed taxi operators in Newark and Sherwood 2023 (PDF File, 143kb)
Download a list of wheelchair accessible vehicles 2024 (PDF File, 401kb)
View the list of fees (PDF File, 102kb)
Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing
The basic difference between the two types of vehicle is that hackney carriages can be 'flagged down' off the street or on a rank whereas private hire vehicles (PHVs) must be pre-booked through an operator.
To apply for a vehicle licence, please download and complete the vehicle application form 2024 (PDF File, 851kb). Along with the application form, you must provide the vehicles MOT certificate, the V5 Document and the relevant insurance document.
All licensed vehicles are required to undergo an inspection every 6 months. This includes an inspection upon initial application/renewal, and 6 months afterwards.
Vehicle inspections must be completed at the NSDC Transport Section, Brunel Drive Depot, Newark, NG24 2EG (Tel 01636 655566).
How to apply for a driver’s licence
Read all the information in the Newark and Sherwood District Council Taxi Policy 2023 (PDF File, 1,364kb). Once you are happy that you meet the necessary criteria, you should download and complete the driver application form 2024 (PDF File, 717kb).
You’ll then need to make an appointment with the licensing team at Castle House, Great North Road, Newark, NG24 1BY. To make an appointment, please contact licensing@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk.
There is a fee to pay for your licence at your appointment, and your driver’s application can take six to eight weeks.
Drivers take a knowledge test, an ability test, have a Group 2 DVLA standard medical and a DBS (previously CRB) check before their licence is issued. The driver’s licence issued by the Council entitles the holder to drive both private hire vehicles and hackney carriages.
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) checks and references are also taken.
If we’re satisfied that you’re a fit and proper person following these tests and checks, we’ll grant the application and issue a three year licence. If you have not met the requirements, the matter will be referred to the general purposes committee for a hearing.
DBS check
All applicants are required to complete, and pay the appropriate fee, for an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check (previously CRB) on first application. Applicants are also required to join the DBS update service to enable us to carry out an annual on-line check.
You’ll need to satisfy the DBS evidence criteria (PDF File, 80kb) identification requirements in order to obtain an enhanced DBS. If you have previously been known by a different name, you’ll need to provide evidence of this name change. You’ll also need to provide your national insurance number.
A DBS certificate submitted in support of an application will not be accepted if it’s more than three months older than the date the certificate was issued. It must also be specifically for the position applied for.
Where an applicant has not lived in the UK since their 10th birthday, or has spent a period of three months or more as a non-resident, we’ll also need to see a certificate of good conduct authenticated by the relevant embassy of the country of residence and a translated copy. This must be provided at your own expense. More information on certificates of good conduct is available on the gov.uk website.
Medical examination
To apply for your licence, you’ll need to pass a medical examination of Group II standards. Medical examinations must be usually be conducted by our independent medical advisor.
If you are aged 45 or over you’ll need to have a repeat examination every three years until you are 65. If you’re aged 65 or over, or have a specified medical condition, you will need to have an examination on an annual basis.
Right to work in the UK
By law, we’re required to conduct checks to make sure that you are not disqualified from holding a private hire or hackney carriage drivers licence by your immigration status.
If you have time-limited permission to be in the UK and work, this check must be repeated at each subsequent application to renew or extend the licence. This will continue until you’re able to demonstrate that you are entitled to remain indefinitely in the UK, without restriction on your ability to work.
Driver’s licence renewal
A renewal form will be sent to your recorded address.
All drivers are required to be active on the DBS update service so an enhanced DBS check can be undertaken on renewal.
It is your responsibility to ensure your licence is renewed before it expires and that an annual DBS check is recorded with the licensing office.
Once your driver's licence has expired it cannot be renewed. Late applicants whose licence has expired must go through the 'new licence' process.
Registers for licensed drivers and vehicles are kept in accordance with the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the Town Police Clause Act 1847. These registers are available at the council offices for public inspection. If you’re interested in viewing this information please contact on customerservices@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk or call 01636 650000.
Changes for taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence applications from April 2022
The rules are changing if you’re an individual, company or any type of partnership applying for a licence for a:
- taxi driver
- private hire driver
- private hire vehicle operator
- scrap metal site
- scrap metal collector
All existing licence holders and those applying for a new licence on or after 4 April 2022, will be required to demonstrate that they are registered with the HMRC for tax purposes. Without this evidence, the application for a new licence cannot be accepted.
What you should do before April 2022
Get a Government Gateway user ID and password
You will need a Government Gateway user ID and password to complete a tax check, so you should make sure you have one before you need to make your licence application.
If you do not have a user ID, you can create one by registering for HMRC online services.
Check your HMRC records are up to date
You can check your details are up to date when you get a Government Gateway user ID, or by signing in to HMRC Online Services.
Find out if you must pay tax on your earnings from your licensed trade if you’re not already registered with HMRC
Check if you:
- must send a Self Assessment tax return if you’re self-employed or in a partnership
- need to register for Corporation Tax if you operate a company
If you only pay tax through PAYE you do not need to check your records.
Information about what to do before 4 April 2022 can be found on the government website
Safeguarding training
Following the report into child sex exploitation in Rotherham, the role of taxi drivers has been in the public eye. Sometimes, taxi drivers are the eyes and ears of the community due to the unique role they have in transporting and engaging with children, vulnerable adults and their carers. Because of this, we feel it is important that taxi drivers in Newark and Sherwood understand how to raise concerns about vulnerable children and adults.
The councils in Nottinghamshire have introduced compulsory training for taxi drivers and operators on the very important subject of safeguarding, particularly around vulnerable young people.
Our drivers and operators are now required to undergo safeguarding vulnerable passenger training as a condition of your licence. All drivers are required to attend one of the courses within one year of the condition being introduced. Failure to attend the course will result in your badge either not being renewed or being revoked or suspended.
There is no cost for the training held at Newark and Sherwood. Call the licensing team for more details on 01636 655280 or 655894.
Drivers may attend a course being held by another council, although some are charging a fee ranging between £25 and £38.
Apply for a private hire operators licence
A private hire operators licence is required in order to be able to accept bookings for private hire vehicles. The District Council licences the premises where the provision is made for the acceptance of private hire bookings. All premises must be within the boundaries of the Newark & Sherwood District.
Before an operator’s licence is granted, the applicant must demonstrate that they are fit to hold a licence and that the address from which they intend to operate is suitable and any necessary planning permissions have been obtained. When an operator intends to work from home, any requirement for planning consent will take into account the number of vehicles to be operated from the address.
Requirements for a private hire operators licence are set out in our policy.
To apply for a private hire operator licence, complete the Private Hire Operator Application form 2024 (PDF File, 733kb).
National register of taxi licence refusals and revocations (NR3)
The Local Government Association (LGA), the representative body for local councils, has commissioned a new National Register of Taxi Licence Refusals and Revocations (NR3). The register will be hosted by the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN).
The register has been created to prevent drivers who have had a hackney carriage or PHV licence revoked or an application for one refused, going to another authority to dishonestly secure a licence by failing to disclose their previous licensing history. It’s a way for licensing authorities to share details of individuals who have had a hackney carriage or PHV licence revoked or an application for one refused
Instances of drivers doing this in the past have undermined public confidence in the hackney carriage and PHV trade and licensing authorities. The development of NR3 has been welcomed by all sections of the taxi trade, safety groups and charities, the department for transport and by licensing authorities.
We’ve been using the NR3 register since the start of 2021 to:
- check applications for new hackney carriage/PHV licences and renewals
- record when an existing licence is revoked or an application for renewal or a new licence is refused
The information recorded on NR3 will be limited to:
• name
• date of birth
• address and contact details
• national insurance number
• driving licence number
• decision taken
• the date of the decision
• the date decision was effective
Information will be retained on NR3 for 25 years.
All data processing and sharing undertaken by this authority on the NR3, and with individual authorities in regard to entries on the NR3 will be undertaken in accordance with the Data Protection Act (DPA) and the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). The legal basis for processing this information is that it is necessary for the performance of a task carried out in the public interest or in the exercise of official authority vested in the licensing authority – that is, assessing whether an individual is a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage or PHV licence. It is not intended that any NR3 data will be transferred out of the UK.
If you wish to raise any issue related to the data protection legislation, including by relying on any of the rights afforded to data subjects under the GDPR, you can do so to the authority’s data protection officer at freedom@newark-sherwooddc.gov.uk
You always have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office.