Hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy

On 12 February 2026, the Licensing Applications Committee approved the hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy. It takes effect from 13 February 2026.

The policy PDF can be viewed online and has links to each section from the table of contents: hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy PDF.

As a result, there will be a stepped approach to the implementation of the new and amended licence conditions.

Hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licences

Hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licences that are due to expire after 13 February 2027 will be re-issued in order for the new and amended conditions to be implemented.

If this applies to you, you do not need to do anything further. You will be contacted in due course when your licence has been re-issued.

Due to the number of licensed involved, this will take several months. In the meantime the licence conditions that were issued with your current licence will remain in place.

Private hire and school transport vehicle licences

The conditions and specifications for private hire vehicles will be applied to the grant and renewal of all applications from 13 February 2026.

Current licences will remain in place until they are renewed and the amended conditions will be issued with the renewed licence.

School transport vehicles

From 13 February 2026, only private hire vehicle licences will be issued, with the school transport vehicle licence category being discontinued.

Vehicles with a school transport licence will now be required to apply for a private hire vehicle licence on renewal.

All new applications for the grant/renewal received after 13 February 2026 will be issued with a private hire vehicle licence.

Door signs

Part of the new specifications includes the requirement for door signs to be displayed rather than a roof sign. We are currently liaising with our supplier to organise a system for ordering these. Until this is done, the existing door/roof signs should continue to be used.

Private hire and school transport operators

From 13 February 2026 only private hire operator licences will be issued, with the school transport operator licence category being discontinued.

All private hire and school transport operator’s licence will be re-issued in order to implement the new conditions.