RESEARCHED AUTHORITY
Boston
Boston Borough Council · Sources checked 12 September 2026
- Driver licensing
- Official route/source found
Potential applicants first request and read Boston's Driver Enquiry Pack, then attend an appointment at the Municipal Buildings where their driving licence is checked and they take the comprehension test. Successful applicants receive the application pack. The council issues private-hire driver badges and dual Hackney Carriage/private-hire badges; the driver and vehicle licences must be issued by the same authority.
- Vehicle licensing
- Official route/source found
A Hackney Carriage or private-hire vehicle application requires the council form, a Boston-area MOT certificate, the appropriate public- or private-hire insurance, and a taximeter calibration certificate where applicable. Licensed vehicles are MOT tested every six months and the vehicle licence renews annually. Hackney Carriages need the council plate, roof and for-hire signs, and a tested and sealed meter; private-hire vehicles must be pre-booked through their operator.
- Operator licensing
- Official route/source found
Anyone operating private-hire vehicles must obtain a Boston private-hire operator licence. It lasts five years and the operating premises must be within the borough. Applicants who do not already hold a Boston Hackney Carriage/private-hire driver badge must supply a current Basic Disclosure at their own expense; the council also applies its fit-and-proper and immigration-status checks.
- Licensing fees
- Official route/source found
Full Council approved the 2026/27 fee schedule on 2 March 2026, but the schedule does not print an exact commencement date. A new Hackney Carriage/private-hire driver licence is £250.30 and renewal £193.50. A new or renewed Hackney Carriage or private-hire vehicle licence is £191.30. A new five-year private-hire operator licence is £273.30, and the driver knowledge test is £31.70. These are council charges and should not be combined with external medical, DBS or training costs.
- Taxi tariff
- Current scale and pending statutory change located
Tariff content checked 23 October 2026. The council notice dated 14 October 2026 distinguishes the existing scale from its proposed replacement. Existing flags are £3.40/£5.10/£6.80 for 400 yards, then 20p/30p/40p per started 190 yards. The 30 September Cabinet approval was conditional on statutory advertising and objections. Objections close on 28 October; noon on 5 November is conditional, not a confirmed operative replacement date. Proposed increments, night hours, fuel surcharge and booking fee remain separate; no model is enabled.
- Mandatory qualifications
- Official route/source found
First-time drivers must pass Boston's English-reading, receipt-writing and basic-mathematics comprehension test, provide Enhanced DBS and DVLA checks, meet the DVLA Group 2 medical standard, complete the council's two safeguarding certificates, and evidence identity, address, right to work and any required overseas good-conduct check. A private-hire badge may be issued first; changing to the dual Hackney Carriage/private-hire badge requires the separate law, route and local-places knowledge test.
Withheld or still needing confirmation
- The approved 2026/27 fee schedule does not state its exact commencement date; none is inferred.
- Medical, DBS, training and any other third-party charges are not treated as council licence fees.
- Verify whether the 2026 recommended variation was approved and obtain its operative date before publication as current.