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Borough of Oadby & Wigston

Corporate Resources (Licensing Team)
e-mail::
Web Site:
Please ask for:TAXI LICENSING
Extension:637
Our ref:AW/HCPHVD/TAXISGENERAL
Your ref:

Dear Sir/Madam

TAXI DRIVER APPLICATION PACK

Please find enclosed Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s hackney carriage and private hire licensing Policy and the information that you need to become a licenseddriver. The Council can only grant a licence to someone who is a“fit and proper” person. The application process is designed to ensure that you are able to satisfy us that you are“fit and proper”.

Documents enclosed with this letter

1. Oadby and Wigston Borough Council’s licensing policy

2. Competency Test Guide

3. Medical Forms

4. DVLA Driving Licence Mandate

5. Drivers Application Form (Blue)

6. CRB FORM

IMPORTANT - BEFORE WE WILL CONSIDER YOUR APPLICATION, YOU MUST HAVE:

  1. Held a full British or European Community drivers licence for at least 12 months AND
  2. Passed the Drivers Standard Agency (DSA) Test for taxis and private hire vehicles

You can find out details about how to take the DSA test by contacting them on 0300 200 1122or visiting

The application process requires you to complete the following forms:

  1. Application form (BLUE PAPER) for hackney carriage and private hire drivers licence
  2. Disclosure and Barring Service form (Criminal Record Check)
  3. Driving Licence mandate formDP20
  4. Completed D4 medical certificate signed by signed by a GP within the last calendar month

These forms must be submitted to us in person accompanied by allof the following documents:

  1. Your DVLA Driving Licence (photo card AND paper Counterpart).
  2. Your DSA Taxi Driving Test pass certificate
  3. Two Passport Photographs.

You must also bring into the Council Offices any two of the following documents, one which must show your current address:

  • Birth Certificate (UK and Channel Islands) issued at time of birth
  • Passport (Current and valid)
  • UK Bank or Building society (dated within last 3 months)
  • Credit Card Statement (dated within last 3 months)
  • Gas, Water or Electric utility bill (dated within last 3 months)
  • P45 or p60 Statements (dated within last 12 months)
  • Council Tax Statements (dated within last 12 months)

COMPETENCY TEST

Once you have submitted a valid application we will book you on to take the next available competency test. This is a multiple choice exam based upon the Council’s enclosed hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy. Tests are held once a month at the Council Offices.

Applicants are advised to read and understand all the rules and regulations that apply to licensed drivers, vehicles and operators outlined in our Policy.

New applicants for a licence are required to take a competency test and will be allowed 3 attempts to take the test within 3 months of the first test being sat. Should the applicant fail the test on all 3 occasions the Licence will be refused and no new application will be considered for 12 months.

The fee for the first test must be paid at the time of application. If further tests are needed the fee must be paid before each further test.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

We are often asked the questions below:

Q. Can I submit a medical form that is over a month old? A. No. No exceptions to this policy will be made. Being a Taxi driver requires you to be on time for bookings. It is therefore not a good idea to give the Council the impression that you are unable to manage to submit a medical certificate within a month of having it done.

Q. Can I submit and pay for my DBS (criminal record check) and if you approve me then pay for the full application?A: No. The Council is only authorised to apply for DBS checks of taxi driver applicants. If you do not make an application we cannot check your criminal record. Someone who doesn’t want to commit fully to making an application cannot be confident that they are fit and proper and would therefore be wasting their own and the Council’s time.

Q. Can I pay and take the competency test first, and if I pass, then submit and pay the full application?A. No. As above, the Competency test is only one aspect of you proving to us you are fit and proper and such requests indicate to the Council that you are not confident of being fit and proper.

Q. I have a DBS (criminal record check) that has already been done by another council, can I submit this instead of paying for a new one?A. No. We will not accept any other DBS check unless it is done by us.

Q. Can I get a hackney carriage licence and drive for a LeicesterCity operator? A. No. This is contrary to the Councils “intended use” Policy. If you want to work in LeicesterCity you must obtain a licence with them.

Q. Can I licence my vehicle that is also licensed by another Council? No. We will not licence a vehicle that is already licensed. It does not matter if you will take the plates of the other Council Off.

Fees 1 April 2014 – 31 March 2015

Application for hackney carriage/private hire drivers licence: £190.00

DBS (criminal record check)£ 44.00

Competency Test£ 35.00

Yours faithfully

Adam Ward

Licensingand Land Charges Officer