Driver Licence Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles

All new applicants must pass the Licensing Teams knowledge test before submitting an application. If you have passed your knowledge test please upload the pass off letter as evidence. To apply for a new or renewal joint driver licence use the online forms below. Each form will take 10 minutes to complete. You can upload your supporting evidence.

To find out how we use your information see our privacy notice (opens in a new window).

All applicants must hold a level two (Regulated Qualifications Framework) qualification is a taxi licensing subject or be enrolled on a course before they make application.

We will consider other qualifications at level 2 if they are on a similar topic. We would need to see the full specification for the course so we can decide if its suitable.

We will not issue a licence until the qualification has been passed and the certificate has been verified. Obtaining either qualification is not a guarantee that a licence will be granted.

You can choose to take the course with a number of colleges or training providers. To find out if your qualification is accredited you can check the Ofqual register (opens in a new window).

All applicants are required to pass the 3 parts of a theory test:

1. a knowledge test of the Cheshire East area
2. questions in relation to taxi legislation
3. questions on the Highway Code

Applicants must show a suitable knowledge of the Borough before we will issue licence.

• Knowledge Test Guidance (PDF, 226KB)

The Knowledge Test papers are split into three different areas. Congleton, Crewe and Nantwich and Macclesfield Zones.

The paper you choose will determine which questions you will have to answer on Section one of the paper.

The areas the papers cover are:

• Congleton (Congleton, Sandbach, Middlewich and rural areas)
• Crewe and Nantwich (Crewe, Nantwich, Shavington and rural areas)
• Macclesfield (Macclesfield, Wilmslow, Knutsford, Alderley Edge and rural areas)

Book your knowledge test

Book your knowledge test online form using the button below. To complete the form you will need a credit or debit card to pay the £50.00 fee.

The fee is non refundable and you can not transfer your booking. 

Book your knowledge test

Taking the knowledge test

You should allow 2 hours to complete the test process and documentation.

You must bring:

• your DVLA driving licence
• your passport

As a result of the COVID 19 pandemic we have modified the way we are conducting our knowledge tests. Please see our Taxi Driver Knowledge Tests during COVID 19 Guidance (PDF, 26KB)

Test remarking

If you wish to have your test remarked there is a fee of £20.00 which can be paid over the phone on 0300 123 5015.

• Medical part one (PDF, 83KB)
• Medical part two (PDF, 384KB)

Contact us on 0300 123 5015 to book your appointment for your disclosure and barring certificate. When attending your appointment please make sure bring with you your DBS acceptable documents (PDF, 186KB).

Once you receive your completed DBS certificate, please bring the original document to a local library for verification.  Prestbury and Alderley Edge libraries are unable to accept DBS certificates.

Alternatively, you can post your certificate to us at the address listed at the bottom of this page or deposit it through the letter box at either Macclesfield Town Hall, Delamere House, Crewe or the Municipal Buildings, Crewe. We will return the DBS by post or contact you for collection.

From 29 July 2024, all Joint Driver applicants must register for the Disclosure Barring Update Service. This is an annual subscription that needs to be renewed each year.

You must register for the Update Service within 28 calendar days of the issue date on your certificate. Failure to do so could lead to enforcement action by the Licensing Team.

If you do not register for the update service within 28 calendar days of your certificate issue date, you will then have to arrange for a new Disclosure Barring Service check to be completed and pay again.

If you are already subscribed to the update service but your certificate is not under Cheshire East Taxi Licensing, you must contact the licensing team to verify if your certificate can be accepted as part of your application.

Contact details for registering for a  DBS

To register for the DBS Update Service

DBS customer services customerservices@dbs.gov.uk

Telephone: 0300 0200 190

You are required to provide one colour passport sized photograph to be used for your badge if granted.

You will need to provide a Certificate Of Good conduct if:

•  you have been living in the UK for less than 5 years at the time of your application or,
• you have lived outside the UK in the last 5 years

You must get a certificate from the UK based Embassy for each country you have lived in within the last 5 years. The certificate must be in English or a certified English translation of the original.

We can only accept a Certificate Of Good Conduct which is less than 28 days old when you make your application for a joint driver licence.

To prove your right to work you must provide copies of Document(s) from either List A or List B (PDF, 88KB) which demonstrate that you have the right to work in the UK within the taxi licensing trade. Please do not send original documents to the Licensing Team unless requested to by an officer.

You can also prove your right to work by providing the Licensing Team with a check code.

Applicants must have held a driving licence granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 for a period of 12 months or more (this includes UK and EEA licences).

To verify this and to confirm any driving endorsements or disqualifications you are required to request a code from the DVLA to be submitted to us with your application.

You can request the DVLA Code by visiting https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence or call the DVLA on 0300 790 6802. 

Supply a scanned copy of both sides of your driving licence.

We will reject your application if you fail to submit this information with your completed application form.

From 4 April 2022, the government have introduced new tax checks that require councils to undertake Tax Conditionality checks when processing applications for licensed hackney carriage, private hire or joint driver licence.

This has been brought in via the Finance Act 2021, which contains a clause that has introduced the Tax Conditionality checks to certain licence applications. The check is solely to confirm that you are registered for tax and does not give any financial details to the Council.

You will be required to produce a tax code if you’re:

• 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

For guidance and details on how to obtain a tax code please visit the GOV.UK Complete a tax check webpage.

Fees for new Joint Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Driver applicants

Fees to be paid when submitting your application:

• An enhanced DBS check £60.00
• DVLA check £5.00
• DBS Update Service check £30.00

Fee to be paid upon the confirmation that a licence can be granted

• Grant of licence fee £120.00

Fees for Joint Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver renewals

Fees to be paid when submitting a renewal application:

• An enhanced DBS check £60.00
• DVLA check £5.00
• DBS Update Service check £30.00
• Grant of licence Fee £140.00

Payment can be made by card or by cheque. Cheques must be made payable to ‘Cheshire East Council’. You can make card payment over the phone on 0300 123 5015.