Doncaster Taxi and Private Hire Licensing Policy

Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy

Taxis have been licensed for over 150 years – the legislation for hackney carriages pre dates the invention of the motor car dating back to 1847 – and private hire vehicles were first licensed almost 40 years ago.  Local standards and conditions has been imposed and updated overtime but vehicle manufacture and the expectations of the travelling public have changed so much that it was felt a complete overhaul was needed.

Doncaster Council has reviewed all its standards and conditions relating to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle and drivers.  Prior to the adoption of the new standards the Council consulted widely and took into account any representations that were made.  A number of amendments were made to the original proposal arising out of comments made by the trade.  For example, we will now consider Hackney Carriage vehicles which allow either side or rear entry for wheelchair passengers

The resulting Policy includes details of vehicle standards and conditions, driver conditions and the pre-requisite requirements before a licence will be granted.  The Policy also sets out the Council’s position of not limiting the number of hackney carriage licences it will issue. 

Doncaster Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy is a single document setting out all the Council’s policies.  The full Policy Document is attached to this page.

All existing and prospective drivers, vehicle owners and operators are advised to read the policy in full.

In addition to the decision not to limit the number of hackney carriage vehicle licences the main changes brought in by this Policy are as follows:

• After the 1st April 2012 the option of 1 and 3 year licences will be available. (to apply for a 3 year licence a driver must have held a licence for a minimum of 2 years and have passed a recognised qualification). 
  

• No minimum age for drivers other than statutory requirements.
  

• All new drivers must pass the relevant knowledge test, DSA test, medical etc prior to submission of their application.
  

• Driver Criminal Records Bureau CRB checks to be required every 3 years.
  

• The required medical to be Class 2, valid until age 45 (or minimum of 5 years whichever is greater) and every 5 years thereafter.
  

• The introduction of a voluntary dress code.
  

• Vehicle specification expanded to allow a greater variety of vehicles to be licensed e.g. vehicles that allow side or rear loading of wheelchair passengers and MPVs with an additional row of seats
  

• No minimum number of seats and no minimum engine size for vehicles.
  

• Change to the vehicle testing regime.

Transitional arrangements for existing driver licence holders

Whilst these conditions will take immediate effect for all new applicants, we are phasing in the requirements for medicals and CRB checks for existing drivers and, where applicable, we will contact you well in advance of your next renewal requesting the required documentation.

Any existing driver who has held a licence for over 2 years will be required to undertake a CRB check prior to their next renewal and 3 yearly thereafter.

Any existing driver who is aged 45 or over and has held a licence for over 4 years will be required to produce a Class 2 medical certificate prior to their next renewal and 5 yearly thereafter.

Any existing driver who is aged 65 or over will be required to produce a Class 2 medical certificate prior to their next renewal and annually thereafter.

Changes to vehicle standards and conditions

All vehicles licensed for the first time after the 1st February 2012 will be subject to the new standards and conditions.

Existing licensed vehicles will continue to be subject to the standards and conditions that existed at the time of licensing and the new conditions will take effect on renewal.

New Drivers

We have changed the procedure so that anyone wishing to become a driver has to have all the pre-requisite requirements e.g. knowledge test, medical, DSA test etc in place prior to submission of their application.  At the point of application a Criminal Records Bureau CRB check will be carried out and a decision will be made as to whether the applicant is ‘fit and proper’.

To avoid potential disappointment and expense, anyone who is considering embarking down the road of becoming a licensed driver is strongly advised to first read Appendix 2 of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy which gives guidance on the relevance of convictions before taking any of the required tests and medical.

If you wish to discuss any matter referred to on this page please do not hesitate to contact the licensing office using the contact details at the top of this page.