Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Drivers

This is a dual licence that allows the holder to drive both Private Hire and Hackney Carriage vehicles licensed by Torfaen County Borough Council. A licence can only be issued once the Authority is satisfied that the applicant is a fit and proper person to hold such a licence.

Licensed drivers are issued with a badge showing their photograph, the licence number and expiry date. Drivers must wear their badge at all times when working, and must work through a licensed private hire operator if driving a Private Hire Vehicle.

Various checks are completed in order to satisfy this criteria, these are:

• Completion of a Knowledge test to a satisfactory standard
• Enhanced Disclosure Check from the Disclosure and Barring Service
• DVLA Enquiry on applicants driving licence
• Medical Examination, to Group II standard completed by applicants own GP

Completion of the Knowledge Test to a satisfactory standard is a prerequisite for application – we will not issue an application pack to an individual who does not satisfy the requirement.

Convictions or cautions

When submitting an application for a licence to drive a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle you are requested to declare any convictions or cautions you may have, which includes those that are regarded as ‘spent’ under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act , 1974, as the Council is exempt from the act for the purpose of licensing drivers.

Fees

A licence is renewable every three years. Download the current Licence Fees for Private Hire & Hackney Carriage Licences here.

Further information

For more information about private hire and hackney carriage licensing, please contact the Licensing Section, Ty Blaen Torfaen, Panteg Way, New Inn, Pontypool NP4 0LS. 

Please Note - Torfaen County Borough Council (The Council) is under a duty to protect the public funds which it administers and to this end may use the information you provide within Torfaen County Borough Council for the prevention and detection of fraud. The Council may also share this information with other bodies administering or in receipt of public funds solely for these purposes. For further information, visit the National Fraud Initiative area of the website.