Private Hire Operator's Licence

It is a criminal offence to operate a private hire vehicle within West Suffolk without having a Private Hire Vehicle Operator's Licence.

A Private Hire Operator's Licence is required to take bookings and dispatch private hire vehicles to customers.

An individual, partnership or limited company  can apply for an operator's licence and employ, or subcontract licensed private hire vehicles.

As the operator you:

• must renew your licence every five years
• are responsible for complying with the conditions of your licence.

In order to dispatch vehicles, West Suffolk Council licensed private hire operators can use:

• any private hire vehicles and drivers as long as they are licensed by West Suffolk Council, or
• any licensed hackney carriage vehicle and driver regardless of where the licences are issued.

West Suffolk Council will not grant a licence unless we are satisfied that the applicant is a 'fit and proper person' to hold an operator's licence. In determining whether an applicant is 'fit and proper' we consider the following factors:

• any previous convictions of relevance
• the applicant’s financial standing
• the applicant’s general character
• the applicant’s knowledge and experience of the private hire profession
• the applicant’s understanding of his or her responsibility as a private hire operator and their commitment to abide by the terms and conditions of the private hire operator’s licence.
• the applicant’s immigration status

Only when the council is satisfied on all these points will it consider granting or renewing a private hire operator’s licence.

Please read our West Suffolk Council Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Policy

Apply for a Private Hire Operator's Licence

To apply for an operator's licence, you must do the following:

1. Complete our application form and provide details of all drivers and vehicles that use you as an operator:
   • Private hire operator licence application - Part A (Word)
   • Private hire operator licence application - Part A (PDF)
   • Private hire operator licence application - Part B (Word)
   • Private hire operator licence application - Part B (PDF)
2. The applicant or applicants must obtain a Basic Disclosure Barring Service (DBS) check. If the applicant is a limited company, a basic DBS will be required for all directors and secretaries and this will need to be undertaken annually to maintain the compliance requirements.  The operator’s licence will be suspended if this not done. If any of the directors and secretaries are a current licenced driver with West Suffolk Council, a basic DBS check will not be necessary as the applicant should already be registered for the DBS Update Service. Evidence to that effect must be submitted on application. As a licenced driver they will be checked six monthly as part of their drivers licence continued compliance and annually thereafter, for the duration of the operator’s licence.  Should they cease to be a licenced driver they will need to provide a Basic DBS annually.
3. Produce evidence of your right to work and live in the UK in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration Act 2016
   • GOV.UK - Prove your right to work to an employer
4. Provide evidence of appropriate public liability insurance if the premises are open to the public.
5. Provide evidence of appropriate employer's liability insurance if you directly employ drivers.
6. Provide a completed tax check with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) if you are:
   • renewing a licence
   • applying for the same type of licence you previously held, that ceased being valid less than a year ago.
   • applying for the same type of licence you already hold with another licensing authority.
   • You will need to set up a Government Gateway user ID and password and complete a tax check. This will provide you with a tax check code which you will need to provide to us.

Please note that document attachments can be scanned or photos, but these must be complete, legible and readable.

All documents must be fully completed and emailed altogether (as a complete application) with the required accompanying documents to licensing@westsuffolk.gov.uk.

Please make sure that you make best efforts to complete the form correctly and be aware that if your application is incomplete or incorrect that it may be rejected.

You will receive an acknowledgement for your email. The Licensing staff will contact you to pay the relevant fee: Taxi and private hire fees.

We aim to process a new or renewal applications within 28 days from receipt of a complete application. Please do not contact us to chase your application’s progress within this window.

Tacit authorisation does not apply because it is in the public interest that your application is fully processed before a licence is granted.