RESEARCHED AUTHORITY
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026
- Driver licensing
- Official route/source found
The policy updated 1 September 2026 normally requires age 21 and a full GB driving licence held for at least 12 months. Under-21 applicants may present written evidence of appropriate experience and skills for individual assessment. A DVLA check code and enhanced DBS including both barred lists are required, with Update Service registration.
- Vehicle licensing
- Official route/source found
Vehicle licences last 12 months for up to eight passengers. Apply online with hire insurance (and fleet schedule where relevant), ownership or lease evidence, appropriate DBS evidence where required, and an approved-garage MOT/compliance certificate no more than four weeks old. Converted vehicles require suitable approval evidence. From 1 September 2026 the ordinary age limit is 12 years; standard WAV and ultra-low/zero-emission vehicles can reach 15 years. Enhanced-standard WAVs can continue beyond 15 with six-monthly MOT/compliance tests. New and replacement hackneys must be wheelchair accessible. Vehicles must accept cashless payment and cannot be dual-plated with another authority.
- Operator licensing
- Official route/source found
The policy effective 1 September 2026 requires the application, vehicle-band fee, photographic identity/address evidence and a basic DBS within three months, except valid Buckinghamshire driver-licensees subscribed to the Update Service. Company applications must name the company as proposed holder, be signed by a director/partner and identify every director. Operators are responsible for records and suitable booking staff.
- Licensing fees
- Official route/source found
Buckinghamshire's current fee page lists £401 for a three-year private-hire, hackney-carriage or dual driver licence, whether new or renewed. Annual hackney-vehicle grant/renewal is £319/£275; private-hire is £312/£271; executive private-hire is £299/£258. Five-year private-hire operator charges are £645 for one vehicle, £1,265 under 10 vehicles, £2,096 under 50 and £3,294 over 50; the page also publishes discretionary one-year bands. Vehicle testing and supplier-provided driver checks are paid separately. The page is presented alongside the council's licensing policy updated from 1 September 2026, and applicants should use the live table for variations and replacement items.
- Taxi tariff
- Official route/source found
Current council fares, stated correct as of 5 August 2024: tariff 1 £5 for first started 880 yards, then 20p per started 176 yards and 20p waiting per started 40 seconds (Monday–Saturday 06:00–23:00). Tariff 2 is £7.50/30p/30p for nights, Sundays/bank holidays and festive eves from 16:00. Tariff 3 is £10/40p/40p on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Five or more passengers move ordinary tariff 1 to 2 and tariff 2 to 3. Off-rank hiring £1; soiling £100. An agreed advance booking fee for an in-district private-hire contract can additionally reflect taxi travel to pickup and return from destination, subject to the council's stated cap.
- Mandatory qualifications
- Official route/source found
Applicants need an approved practical driving assessment and Group 2 medical dated within three months, with the council declaration. Safeguarding, disability awareness and English understanding form part of suitability. Driving a wheelchair-accessible vehicle also requires the council-approved WAV course. Medical certification is annual from age 65.
Withheld or still needing confirmation
- Vehicle/operator conditions, fees and complete current fare schedules remain unverified in this record.
- Testing, DBS, medical and other supplier charges are not included in the highlighted council licence fees.
- Preserve prior verified fields.
- Enrichment only; full policy details and other confirmed fields must be preserved.
- Preserve other verified fields. Detailed exceptional vehicle specifications and emissions exemptions require the full policy. The application page and policy differ in DBS exemption wording; refer to policy sections 4 and 4.21 rather than assuming every proprietor needs a new DBS.
- 5 August 2024 is the page's 'correct as of' date, not independently established legal commencement.
- Advance booking fee needs taxi starting location; not derivable from passenger endpoints alone.