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How to become a licensed driver

If you follow this simple procedure you can expect to become a licensed driver in St Helens in approximately four weeks.

• Contact us via email to book a first appointment. You will need to bring with you a bank card (to pay the DBS, DVLA mandate and application fee – total £116). Read the Taxi Licensing Policy for what you will need to become a licensed driver while you are waiting for your appointment.

Applicant Requirements

• Before a licence can be granted, you must meet the following criteria:

• A satisfactory DBS certificate.

• A satisfactory Group 2 Medical certificate.

• A satisfactory DVLA Mandate.

• Passed the Essential Skills Assessment.

First Appointment & Required Documents

• You must bring the following documentation to your appointment:

• Proof of identity/address (utility bill or bank statement no more than three months old).

• A completed driver application form.

• Passport (if you don't have a passport, a birth certificate is required; if your passport was issued outside of the EU, a certificate of good character from your embassy will be required).

• A DVLA mandate check code (this can be generated by visiting the DVLA website and inputting the following information: your DVLA driver's licence number, your National Insurance number and the postcode displayed on your licence).

• DVLA driver licence.

• National Insurance number (card or letter).

• Complete five-year address history (for the purposes of completing the DBS)

• Passport-sized photograph.

• You will also be given a Group 2 medical certificate to be completed either by your GP or another medical practitioner who will have access to your medical records. You need to organise this appointment for your medical quickly to allow it to take place in this four-week period. The fee for the medical will be individually set by your medical practitioner.

• It is really important that you tell us at this first appointment if you have any convictions, cautions, health conditions or anything else we need to know. At this stage we will be able to advise you as to whether your application for a licence is likely to be successful.

• You will be booked onto our next available Essential Skills Assessment (Please note: should you fail this assessment a retest will be required which will incur a fee).

• For the purposes of completing your DBS, you will need to produce three of the following documents:

• Passport (any current and valid passport).

• UK bio-metric residence permit.

• DVLA driver licence (UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man only).

• Birth certificate (UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man (including those issued by UK authorities overseas, for example Embassies, High Commissions & HM Forces)).

• Bank, building society, mortgage or credit card statement (issued in the last three months).

• Council tax statement (issued in the last 12 months)

• Adoption certificate (UK and Channel Islands only).

• Marriage/civil partnership certificate (UK and Channel Islands only).

• Immigration document, visa or work permit.

• HM Forces ID card (UK only).

• Firearms licence (UK, Channel Islands and Isle of Man only).

Vocationally Recognised Qualification (VRQ)

• New applicants will now be given the option to commence work as a licensed driver before completing the VRQ training. You will need to complete the training and provide the certificate of qualification within the first six months of the licence or it will be suspended. You can view the training provider's website for more information. 

Second Appointment & Required Documents

• Once you have received your DBS certificate, your Group 2 Medical and passed the Essential Skills Assessment you will need to contact us to arrange a second appointment.

• You will also need to bring these documents with you to the final appointment:

  • Essential Skills pass letter.

  • Your VRQ pass certificate (If you have it at this time)

  • Your Group 2 medical certificate (the date this is signed should be no more than two months before your final appointment).

  • Your DBS certificate.

• At this second appointment, providing you have brought everything you need and there are no other unforeseen problems, then you will be issued with your one or three-year taxi driver licence.

Taxi Licensing Policy Review

The Taxi Licensing Policy is due for review. However, this has been delayed until the outcome of the recently published Government Consultation into Statutory Guidance for Taxi Licensing is known.