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Licensing – Private Hire Operators

Who needs to apply?

Anyone wishing to operate private hire vehicles to carry passengers for hire and reward.

As private hire work is done by prior arrangement, records must be kept showing relevant details. This includes details of journeys, the vehicles used and who the driver was. This requires a level of administration and people who operate private hire vehicles must hold an operator’s licence.

Checks are made to ensure that operators are “fit and proper” people to hold a licence. In considering the fitness and propriety test for Private Hire Operators, applicants for a Private Hire Operator licence will be required to obtain a basic disclosure certificate from the Disclosure and Barring Service by visiting the Government website. Holders of a current Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence are already considered to be fit and proper, as more stringent tests are applied in the course of obtaining that licence, and will not require a basic disclosure.

In addition to the basic check, they will also be required to:

  • Provide evidence of right to work in the UK.
  • Ensure they hold current public liability insurance providing cover of at least £10 million
  • Provide a declaration of convictions recorded against them
  • Complete a Safeguarding & CSE Awareness course conducted by Licensing
  • Ensure the telephone number for the private hire office has a land line number for bookings to be made.

From 4 April 2022, applicants will also be required to either complete a tax check with HMRC or confirm their understanding of their tax obligations.

If you are:

  • renewing a licence
  • applying for the same type of licence you previously held, that ceased to be valid less than a year ago
  • applying for the same type of licence you already hold with another licensing authority

then you must complete a tax check with HMRC and provide the tax check code with your application. Otherwise, if you are applying for the first time, or you have only held a licence that have not been valid for over a year, you will be required to confirm your awareness of your tax responsibilities.

Full details of the requirements and conditions are available in the Taxi Licensing Policy  [PDF, 2Mb].

Please complete the Private Vehicle Operator application form (PDF, 220Kb and email to licensing@northlincs.gov.uk

Fees and charges

You can find the fee for this licence by going to our licence fee register. You can apply for a one year or a five year licence.

Contact

licensing@northlincs.gov.uk
01724 297000

Licensing Department
PO Box 42
Church Square House
Scunthorpe
DN15 6XQ

Monday to Thursday

9am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.30pm

Friday

9am to 12.30pm and 2pm to 4.00pm

licensing@northlincs.gov.uk

01724 297000

Licensing Department
PO Box 42
Church Square House
Scunthorpe
DN15 6XQ