Apply for a hackney carriage (taxi) licence or private hire licence

Advice for hackney carriage proprietors

Birmingham City Council will only licence purpose built hackney carriage vehicles, van derived vehicles should be meeting the European Whole Vehicle Type Approval or the GB Low Volume Type Approval.

Read more about the hackney carriage standards and evidence which will be required before submitting your application.

Advice for private hire vehicle proprietors

New and replacement private hire vehicles must be younger than 8 years (from date of first registration) when the application is submitted for licensing. A vehicle older than 8 years will not be licensed.

The age of imported vehicles will be assessed from date of first registration in the country of origin if that is earlier than the date of first registration in the UK.

New driver applications

All information relating to how to apply for a hackney carriage or private hire licence is available in the guidance document. Read all of the information in the document before contacting the office to arrange a knowledge test.

View the driver guidance

Knowledge test

Private hire knowledge tests are now being organised and conducted by TTC Group.

TTC Group now also offer an optional training course for candidates who would like help to prepare for the test and have created a short video about how best to prepare for your Private Hire Knowledge Test.

To book a private hire knowledge test or training course, contact TTC directly by email.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Application and Payment

You will need to complete a convictions disclosures check (DBS) and/or prove previous good character by other means as detailed in the driver guidance above.

Apply and pay for a DBS

Application forms

Once you have passed the knowledge test, download and complete the application form. Then make an appointment to bring the form, along with the other documents listed in the driver guidance.

Download the application form


Page last updated: 18 April 2024

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