Important note:
- An Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Restricted School Run Only private hire driver licence will authorise the holder to drive an Epsom & Ewell Borough Council licensed private hire vehicle only whilst carrying out contracted school runs through an Epsom And Ewell licensed private hire operator accepting the booking from a local education authority
- In addition to requiring a private hire driver licence, the County Council awarding the home to school contracts will also need to vet all drivers.This process is entirely separate from the licencing process , for further advice please contact your operator or contact the lrelevant County Council - for Surrey County Council information can be found on this process on the Surrey County Council website School transport contracts information page.
Before applying for a licence you should read our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and our Convictions Policy (see documents section below). Application fees are non-refundable.
Requirements
You be a 'fit and proper person' - which means your background and character will be checked. We will look at:
- medical fitness (drivers must evidence the meet the DVLA Group 2 standard of fitness for vocational drivers i.e. the same as for lorry or bus drivers)
- driving record
- criminal record and any other relevant information
- right to work in the UK
- English language proficiency
Applicants must have held a full driver's licence (issued by DVLA or European Union Country) for three years. Applicants who have held a full driver's licence between 1-3 years may be licensed if they provided an approved driving assessment certificate issued within the last 12 months from an approved provider (BLT(link is external))
Once the application and supporting documentation has been provided and verified new drivers will be required to pass the proficiency test - this test will be of the applicant's knowledge of;-
- spoken English, reading and written comprehension,
- awareness of the conditions of licence, and
- the highway code.
The proficiency test questions are available to download in the 'Documents' section below. Applicants for a restricted 'school run only' drivers instead must pass a Proficiency test - this test does not require knowledge of the local area, or test the applicant's numeracy, and the questions for this test is also available in the 'Downloads' section below. A test fee is payable when booking the test.
Pre-application advice
The Council licences drivers to a high standard, and application fees are non-refundable. If you are unsure whether a licence would be granted (e.g. due to past conviction, motoring offences, or medical condition/episode) then please contact us for advice before applying by e-mailing us at licensing@epsom-ewell.gov.uk(link sends e-mail)
Additional information
- A licence holder/applicant must notify the Council, in writing and within seven days, if they change their name, address or operator.
- A licence holder/applicant must notify the issuing authority in writing within 48 hours of an arrest and release, charge or conviction of any sexual offence, any offence involving dishonesty or violence and any motoring offence (including penalty points).
- Drivers should return their badge to the Council upon renewal or if they stop working for a private hire operator.
- On licensing medicals are required every 5 years from the age of 45. Drivers over 65 years will be required to have a medical a medical every year.
- A full list of the conditions of licence are available in the 'Documents' section below.
Apply online
Our online process makes applying and renewing taxi and private hire licences quicker and easier. As part of the ongoing modernisation of our taxi and private hire licensing service, you can create an online account. This means that if you're a taxi or private hire driver, or applicant, you can apply for or renew an existing licence and track its progress during the application process.
We process all applications within specific parameters. For existing drivers, applications are processed in order of their licence expiry date, to ensure continual licensing wherever possible. New applications are processed in order of the date we receive the application.
Applicants for a private hire driver's licence will only ever be asked to pay the cost of an application, please see table below for fees. We do not offer a fast-track service and will never charge more than the advertised application costs.
Before you apply
You will need the following ready when you apply
- a digital copy of your Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service certificate (DBS) (obtained via TaxiPlus(link is external))
- The DBS certificate will need to be registered with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) update service. There are two opportunities to register with the DBS Update Service:
- 28 days from when you apply for your enhanced DBS check
- 30 days from the date when your DBS certificate was issued
- If you miss the windows to register, then you will need to apply and pay for a new enhanced DBS check
- a digital passport quality photograph.
- a digital copy of your medical reported, completed by your registered G.P (form available in the 'documents' section below).
- a digital copy Certificate of successful completion of the approved Child Safeguarding virtual classroom course (BLT Driver Training Taxi Safeguarding (eLearning)
- a digital copy of your practical driving assessment (BLT(link is external)) (if you have held a UK driving licence or equivalent for three years or less of are under 21)
- a digital copy of UK driving licence
- digital copies of evidence of right to work in the UK (e.g. passport)
- a digital copy of your Certificate of good conduct from the relevant embassy (if you have lived/worked outside the UK for more than 3 months continuously since the age of 16)
- card payment of the application fee (a list of fees is available in the Documents section below)
