Private Hire Operators
Private hire operator licence
A private hire operator's licence is required to enable a person to accept or invite bookings for private hire vehicles.
Any firm which uses private hire vehicles, and takes bookings for journeys, must be licensed as a private hire operator. Firms which only use hackney carriage vehicles do not need an operator’s licence.
Operators licensed by St Albans Council can only use vehicles and drivers licensed by the council.
One person can be licensed and employ/sub-contract an unlimited number of licensed vehicles. However, a licensed private hire driver cannot accept any bookings unless they either hold a licensed private hire operator.
Members of the public have initial contact with the operator and make the contract with them even if the operator does not provide the vehicle and/or the driver.
Before an operator's licence is granted the applicant must satisfy the council that the address from which they intend to operate is suitable and, where applicable, satisfy any conditions that maybe attached to the licence in order not to disturb the ambience of the area.
If you are a vehicle proprietor you may work for any existing operator. However, if you wish to apply for your own licence to operate from premises which will be used as a booking office, you need to obtain planning permission from the council allowing use of the building.
Apply for an operator licence Toggle accordion
To apply for an operator licence, you need to submit your completed application to:
For an operator licence a complete application must include:
- A completed and signed copy of the operator application form
- Basic Disclosure Check for each applicant.
- A recent (taken at the time of application) photograph (head and neck only)
- Copy of your public liability insurance
- List of licensed drivers engaged/employed to drive and any vehicle operated by you
- Fee payment of £602
- Evidence of your - and any other applicants' - right to work in the UK
The council has a duty to ensure that only those persons who are entitled to work in the UK are issued a licence to act as an operator. For this reason all applicants must provide evidence to show that they are entitled to work in the UK, and that there are no restrictions on the work that you can do. You must produce your original proof of your right to work in person to a licensing officer. You will need to contact the licensing team to fix up an appointment to do this.
Applications will not be accepted without production of the above.
Once a new application is submitted you will then be booked on our Operator Training day. The cost of this is £90 per person.
Once your application has been accepted, the relevant checks will take place, if successful the licence will be issued.
If we grant the licence, it will be valid for 5 years
Once you have your licence, you will need to ensure you comply with your private hire operator conditions.
Tacit consent does not apply. We must grant your application before you can start operating.
Renew your operator licence Toggle accordion
To renew for an operator licence, you need to submit your completed application to:
You must apply to renew your licence at least 28 days before your licence expires.
For an operator licence a complete application must include:
- A completed and signed copy of the operator application form
- Evidence of your - and any other applicants' - right to work in the UK
- Basic Disclosure Check for each applicant.
- A recent (taken at the time of application) photograph (head and neck only)
- Copy of your public liability insurance
- List of licensed drivers engaged/employed to drive and any vehicle operated by you
- Certificate of completion of the Equality Act 2010 and safeguarding refresher training.
- Fee payment of £680
- Applications will not be accepted without production of the above.
Once your application has been accepted, the relevant checks will take place, if successful the licence will be issued.
A decision will then be made on your renewal application.
If we grant the licence, it will be valid for 5 years
Once you have your licence, you will need to ensure you comply with your private hire operator conditions.
Tacit consent does not apply. We must grant your application before you can start operating.
HMRC: Mandatory Tax checks at renewal Toggle accordion
From 4th April 2022 licensing authorities will have to carry out checks on applications from individuals, companies and any type of partnership to make sure they have completed a tax check.
The rules will apply to renewal applications for:
- hackney carriage driver licences
- private hire driver licences
- private hire vehicle operator licences
- scrap metal site licences
- scrap metal collector licences
From the above date we will not be able to accept renewal applications unless we are provided with a valid Tax check code. You will be able to complete this tax check on GOV.UK, using your Government Gateway account.
If you don’t have a Government Gateway account then you are advised to create one now in preparation for your next renewal. This can be done by registering for HMRC Online Services: https://www.gov.uk/log-in-register-hmrc-online-services
For those without access to the online system HMRC will be providing a telephone support via 0300 200 3310.
The Tax Check system is now live and can be accessed here:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence
The Tax Check code will be valid for 120 days so you are advised to obtain it in plenty of time for use at renewal. By way of an example if you will be renewing your licence prior to 14th July 2022 you could apply for your tax check code now and it would still be valid when you renew.
The process of completing a check will be simple and should only take minutes and please rest assured that we, as the Licensing Authority, will not have access to any of your tax information.
Below are links to the current HMRC information which explains what you need to do and what is required of us as the licensing authority:
Application form and payment information Toggle accordion
Payment
You can make payment for your application here.
Application form
You can download the application pack below.
Licensing Fees Toggle accordion
| OPERATOR LICENCES | FEE |
| Operator (5 year) | £602.00 |
| ADDITIONAL CHARGEABLE | |
| Duplicate paper licence | £26.00 |
| Operator Training Day (New Operators) | £90.00 |
| Operator Training (For Renewal Applications) | £40.00 |
Please pay using Pay Online
Equality Act 2010 and safeguarding refresher training Toggle accordion
All drivers and operators renewing their licence will need to complete a refresher course on the Equality Act 2010 and safeguarding upon every renewal. The refresher training must be completed before your renewal application can be granted. You do not have to attend the refresher training before submitting your renewal application.
This training course aims at refreshing your current knowledge as well as insuring you have all the up to date information. The course will take 2-3 hours to complete, and can be accessed at any time. The cost of the training is £40 and payable by the applicant.
To accesses the training please visit the below link:
https://unifiedtransportsystems.co.uk/course/driver-training/advanced-professional-driver-level-2/
You will have to enter the password: StAlbans2021
All licences will be granted with our standard conditions. We will also consider your application in line with our guidelines for the grant, suspension and revocation of hackney carriage driver, private hire driver and operator licences. For information on licensing conditions and suitability please see our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy
Deregulation Act 2015 – Private Hire Sub Contracting Toggle accordion
Since 1st October 2015 Private Hire Operators have been allowed to subcontract bookings to Private Hire Operators licensed in other council areas. Previously they were only permitted to subcontract to other Private Hire Operators in the same council area as them.
Where a booking has been subcontracted, it must be completed by a vehicle and driver licensed by the same council as the operator who has received the subcontracted booking.
For example, if a Watford based operator subcontracts a booking to a St Albans operator, the booking must be carried out by a driver and vehicle licensed by St Albans City and District Council. If a St Albans based operator sub-contracts a booking to a Watford operator, the booking must be carried out by a driver and vehicle licensed by Watford Borough Council.
If you are licensed as a private hire driver by St Albans City and District Council, you may only take bookings given to you by a licensed St Albans operator. St Albans private hire drivers can only drive private hire vehicles licensed by St Albans City and District Council - this remains unchanged. You may not go and work for operators in other areas without a licence from that Local Authority.
If you are a St Albans licensed Private Hire Operator, you may subcontract work to, and accept subcontracted work from, licensed Private Hire Operators in other districts. If you do so you must record the full details in your records for each individual booking.
However, for bookings in St Albans District you may only give them directly to drivers and vehicles licensed in St Albans District. You may not give St Albans District bookings directly to drivers licensed by other councils.
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles - Disabled Persons - Act 2022 Toggle accordion
Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022
The Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles (Disabled Persons) Act 2022 ("The 2022 Act") came into effect in England on 28th June 2022. It amends the Equality Act 2010 to introduce new, and amend existing, duties for local authorities and hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers and operators alike.
The 2022 Act aims to ensure that disabled people can use hackney carriage and private hire vehicle services with confidence that they will not be discriminated against, and local authorities have an important role to play in ensuring the requirements are implemented effectively.
Licensing authorities must maintain and publish a list of licenced hackney carriage vehicles and private hire vehicles they designate as being wheelchair accessible. This will identify the vehicles whose drivers are subject to the duties at section 165 on providing assistance to wheelchair users and refraining from charging extra for this.
Our list can be viewedhere.
Exemptions
Currently, drivers of designated currently, drivers of designated may apply for an exemption certificate on medical grounds or where their physical condition makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult to perform the section 165 duties. Exemptions are currently granted from all the duties at section 165.
As a result of the new Act:
All hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers may apply for an exemption certificate and notice on medical grounds or where their physical condition prevents them from performing the mobility assistance duties at sections 164a and 165 (as added/amended by the 2022 Act).
Both existing and new exemption notices, when displayed correctly, will exempt a driver only from the mobility assistance duties at sections 164a and 165 - meaning, for example, that a driver's medical condition can no longer be used as a justification for charging a disabled person more than a non-disabled person.
Please contact us immediately if you consider yourself or one of your drivers are medically or physically unfit to perform the mobility assistance duties. Following this, consideration will be given whether an exemption can apply. Please note this is not guaranteed, and any request must be supported by medical evidence which we will refer to our independent medical advisor.
New requirements for drivers and operators
The existing legislation requires drivers of designated wheelchair accessible vehicles to accept the carriage of wheelchair users, provide them with reasonable mobility assistance, and refrain from charging them more than other passengers.
All hackney carriage and private hire drivers and private hire operators - regardless of whether the vehicle is wheelchair accessible - will be subject to duties under the Equality Act.
Hackney carriage and private hire drivers will be required to:
- Accept the carriage of any disabled person, provide them with reasonable mobility assistance, and carry their mobility aids, all without charging any more than they would for a non-disabled passenger
- Provide any disabled passenger who requests it with assistance to identify the vehicle, at no extra charge
Private Hire operators will be required to:
- Accept bookings for or on behalf of any disabled person, if they have a suitable vehicle available
- Anyone found not be adhering to the legislation may face prosecution and/or be referred to the licensing sub-committee. As I am sure you are aware, you could potentially lose your licence or have it suspended.
The updated guidance can be found by following this link: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/access-to-taxis-and-private-hire-vehicles-for-disabled-users
Should you have any questions please email taxilicensing@stalbans.gov.uk
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy Toggle accordion
The Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy was adopted by the Licensing & Regulatory Committee on 26th January 2021. The policy was then reviewed 09th July 2024.
Our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy brings all our existing guidelines, standards, licensee requirements and information together in one place, as well as updating our approach as a result of changes to national guidance; the DFT Statutory Taxi & Private Hire Vehicle Standards.
The policy can be viewed here.
Taxi Licensing Policy (Card Payments) Toggle accordion
Our Taxi Licensing Policy has been reviewed and an updated, this update introduces mandatory contactless/card payments in Taxis in SADC
Please see below for the decision by the Strategic Director for Community Place & Delivery, for mandatory electronic payments:
Public Register Toggle accordion
Please visit the Public Register Of Licences And Registrations
If you are unable to find the information you are looking for on the public register please send your request to taxilicensing@stalbans.gov.uk
Contact Details
Licensing Service
St Albans City & District Council, Civic Centre, St Peter's St, St Albans AL1 3JE
Tel: 01727 819264