Taxi Licensing
The Council, as a Licensing Authority, must make sure that anyone wanting to drive a taxi or a private hire car (mini-cab) or operate a mini-cab business has the appropriate licences before they can ply for hire.
There are individual licences for drivers, vehicle and operators. Some drivers will have two licences enabling them to drive a private hire car (mini-cab) and a Hackney Carriage (black taxi).
Before issuing the respective licences, there is certain criteria that the Taxi Licensing Officer must ensure is met.
For drivers licences the following must be satisfied:
- he/she must be a fit and proper person to hold a licence - personal references will be sought
- he/she must be medically fit - a relevant medical certificate must be obtained
- he/she must be at least 21 years old
- he/she must have held a full drivers licence granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1998 or is authorised by virtue of Section 99A(1) or section 109(1) of that Act to drive, in Great Britain, a motor car
- he/she must pass a police criminality check carried out by the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) to ensure safety to the public
- a 'knowledge' test of local routes must be passed to ensure job competency. As Hackney Carriage drivers work without the support of a mini-cab office, a higher degree of knowledge will be needed to pass the test.
For vehicle licences the following documents must be presented:
- a valid MOT test certificate
- a vehicle registration certificate
- a 'hire and reward' insurance policy certificate
The vehicle will also be inspected by the Taxi Licensing officer to ensure that it is suitable (in repsect of size, design and condition) and to ensure that it carries a correct identification plate and an approved fire extinguisher.
For an operators licence to be granted, it needs to be confirmed that:
- the address from which they intend to operate is suitable
- the business will not 'disturb' the ambience of the area in which it is located
- if the premises has public access, a waiting room etc, that it holds a certificate of Public Liabiity
- It is important that the necessary licences are obtained before an attempt to ply for hire as this could incur disciplinary proceedings. All applications for licnecs and knowledge tests will incur a fee.
- View a list of fees for the current year
Other information
The Council has standard Fees and Charges which apply for the issue of Vehicle or Drivers licenses. Guidance notes for potential applicants are also available. For details of these, or any other query or complaint relating to Dartford's Hackney Carriage or Private Hire services please contact the Council's Vehicle Licensing Officer on 01322 343340.
All licensed taxis will be displaying identification plates on the vehicles and an identification badge on their person. If you are in any doubt whether a taxi or its driver are licensed - do not get into the cab.
Cab Watch
A programme to ensure the safety and wellbeing of cab drivers.
The Cab Watch programme was launched in 2003 to address the concerns of cab drivers and the cab fraternity regarding their safety while working in the Dartford and Gravesham areas. Cab Watch members meet every two months to discuss current issues.
