Taxi and private hire licences

Taxi and Private Hire Covid-19 Updates

Apply online for your taxi or private hire licence

You can now apply online for all driver/vehicle licences in the licensing portal. You will be able to pay for your licence fee during the online application process. Before making your online application you must read and consider the:

• Licensing Privacy Notice
• New driver local policy criteria and step by step new driver guide for creating your online account
• Vehicle/driver licence terms and conditions
• Vehicle Inspection Manual and Vehicle Specifications and Emissions Policy before purchasing a vehicle and presenting it at a testing station
• See the step by step guide and process guide if you need help with making your online application and submitting your supporting documents

We introduced a limit/cap of 155 on the number of Hackney Carriage Vehicle licences in April 2017. You can find details of how the cap will be administered in the policy report.

If you need to transfer a vehicle that is already licensed to a new proprietor please use the contact us form and a member of the licensing team will contact you with regards to the relevant procedure for submitting the transfer documents.

New licences

To become a new operator you will need to satisfy the local policy criteria by providing a basic disclosure and barring certificate, or if you are already a licensed private hire/taxi driver your existing enhanced DBS may be used. Your business must also be operating from an address within, or immediately next to, the boundary of Northampton.

Apply online to become an Operator

Apply for your Medical or Disclosure & Enhanced Barring Application (DBS)

We work in partnership with approved third party DBS & DVLA Check provider, Personnel Checks. They will facilitate your online applications in accordance with our taxi licensing guidelines.

Apply for your DBS and DVLA checks online

For taxi/private hire driver renewals you are required to obtain a Group 2 Medical and an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Certificate every 3 years. Once you have completed your Group 2 Medical you must return this to the Licensing Team within 3 months of your check being undertaken. You will be contacted with details of the process when your DBS and/or Medical is due for renewal.

Your taxi/private hire driver licence will not be renewed if you have not produced the results of a Group 2 Medical and Disclosure & Barring Certificate within the appropriate timescales.

Tell us about a change in circumstances or a collision

To comply with the conditions of your driver, vehicle and operator licence, please complete the online form with details of any change in your circumstances and/or any incidents that you wish to bring to our attention.  

If your vehicle has been involved in a collision please use the collision form to notify the Licensing Team of the incident