Private hire operator licence - Licences and permissions

There is no reception open to the general public in respect of taxi licensing at Plough Lane and staff have no access or ability to photocopy applications or documents.

Therefore, please email copies of all paperwork to taxilicensing@herefordshire.gov.uk

We will accept photographs of the paperwork taken on smart phones provided the photographs are clear.

In the 'Subject' line of the email, please write your name, your licence number (Driver badge
number/Hackney or Private Hire Vehicle Licence number) and the type of the document/s you are submitting (for example insurance, MOT, renewal application form).

Payments should be made by card for applications by calling our office on 01432 261761.

If you wish to operate a private hire vehicle and/or company you will need a licence.

Operate means:
"in the course of business to make provision for the invitation or acceptance of bookings for a private hire vehicle"

To operate as a private hire company you will need to apply for a private hire operator's licence in addition to obtaining a private hire vehicle licence.

An operator's licence also entitles independent private hire vehicle owners to work for the company provided the operator has acquired the appropriate licence. 

Private hire vehicles and drivers may only be despatched by a licensed private hire operator. A person can apply for an operator's licence as an independent person or to operate from a premises. 

To qualify for a licence you must be able to demonstrate that:

• You are a 'fit and proper' person to hold an operator's licence. A basic Disclosure Barring Service check (DBS) will be carried out to assist in this decision. The application may be referred to the council's Regulatory Committee for determination if the report contains information regarding unspent criminal convictions

• You have the necessary planning consent for the premises where the business is being run. You should obtain advice from the planning department and request they notify you in writing of their decision. You will need to show evidence from the planning department before we can issue your licence

• You have the correct certificate of insurance under Part VI of the Road Traffic Act 1972

You must apply for a licence from the local authority in whose area you plan to do most of your private hire work. This does not exclude you from taking bookings for journeys starting and finishing outside the authority's boundaries.

Fares should be agreed in advance and at the time of booking, provided detailed journey information is given.

Operators remain responsible for a booking once made and any issues with the journey or the booking should be taken up with the operator unless it is an issue that could affect their suitability to hold a licence. In those cases you should contact us.

Operators may sub-contract work but only to licensed operators in the same area licensed by the same local authority. The initial operator will, however, remain responsible for that booking despite sub-contracting it. They must also keep a record of each sub-contracted booking.

Operators are only permitted to despatch drivers and vehicles licensed by the same local authority as themselves.

Private hire vehicle operator licence on GOV.UK

Taxi and private hire licensing policy

Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976

You can pay online using our secure payments service. Select Licensing from the list and then the type of licence you wish to pay for.

To apply for a private hire operator licence you need to read and complete:

• Application form for a private hire operator licence
• Guidance notes for a private hire operator licence
• Conditions for a private hire operator licence
• DBS application guidance

Please ensure that you read the above documents thoroughly and answer all questions on the application form. Any missing information will delay the processing of the application.

When you have completed all the forms you will need to take them along with your DBS certificate, proof of identity, proof of insurance, evidence of planning consent (if necessary) and the required fee to Hereford Customer Service Centre for checking. The paperwork will then be passed to the taxi licensing section.

Please note it may be necessary to produce these documents again to the licensing section.

Insurance

Before we can issue your operator licence we must have an insurance certificate showing that you are appropriately insured for the purposes of operating a private hire business.

Information

When all the checks are received back a member of the licensing team will contact you either by telephone or by letter to request further information or inform you when your licence will be issued.

Refunds

No refunds will be given either in full or part if the licence is refused, revoked or suspended.

It usually takes five working days to process a licence, but this is dependant on you submitting the correct documentation.

If a licence is granted it is subject to conditions. If you breach any of these conditions we could issue penalty points, suspend or revoke your licence. 

A private hire operator licence lasts for three years.

We will send renewal application forms to your last recorded address so if you change address during the term of your licence please let us know.

We will send only one renewal application pack. The responsibility to renew the licence before expiry is with the applicant.

We will not issue the licence until all the necessary checks have been returned and are deemed to be satisfactory.

Changes to a licence

You must tell us of any change in your circumstances immediately because it may affect your application.

If you fail to disclose a change in circumstances it may result in the issue of points under the penalty points system.

• Telephone: 01432 261761 (All calls are dealt with by our contact centre staff and are allocated to an officer who will take action on the service request between one to ten working days)
• Email: taxi-licensing@herefordshire.gov.uk
• Address: Licensing Section, Herefordshire Council, Plough Lane, Hereford HR4 0LE - for correspondence only
  There is no reception open to the general public in respect of taxi licensing at Plough Lane and staff have no access or ability to photocopy applications or documents.
  You should send applications or documents by email to taxilicensing@herefordshire.gov.uk

Emails to the department are allocated to the appropriate staff member who will take action between one to ten working days.
If you have not had a response before the 10 working days have expired please do not contact us again, as it may further delay a response. Please also ensure you have quoted your licence or taxi licence reference number or given your address in your call/email.
Please note: sending repeat or chaser emails will not prompt a quicker response and may result in a back log of emails and a possible further delay.