East Devon taxi and private-hire licensing

RESEARCHED AUTHORITY

East Devon

East Devon District Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026

Driver licensing

Official route/source found

East Devon licenses hackney-carriage and private-hire drivers separately. The current application route requires the council form, full photocard driving licence, identity photograph, right-to-work evidence, a DVLA check code and the relevant tax declaration or tax-check code. During the application the council arranges an enhanced DBS check and requires a Group 2 medical completed by the applicant's GP, a taxi driving assessment, the council knowledge test and overseas criminal-record or character certificates where applicable. The 48-question knowledge test covers local geography, the Highway Code, taxi law and council policy; the council permits three attempts, with a 12-month wait after a third failure. All new drivers must complete the approved safeguarding course within 12 months of licensing. The application pages were updated 8 July 2026.

• Apply for a private hire driver licence
• Knowledge test for hackney and private hire drivers

Vehicle licensing

Official route/source found

Private-hire vehicle licences last one year. Initial vehicles should be no more than five years old; older vehicles require subcommittee consideration rather than automatic refusal or grant. Ask licensing to check the vehicle before buying. Supply owner-name V5, original double-sided stamped inspection report and insurance specifying private-hire use and named drivers, minimum £1million cover. Upload exterior/interior photographs plus first-aid kit, extinguisher and no-smoking-sign photographs. MOT status is checked online for vehicles over three years. A proprietor without an existing taxi/PH driver licence needs Basic DBS; the webpage's inverted certificate-age wording is held for clarification. Guidance updated8July2026.

• Current vehicle application guidance

Operator licensing

Official route/source found

New operator licences last one year; renewal offers one or five years. Application requires right-to-work evidence, premises occupancy proof, tax declaration and basic DBS unless already a council-licensed driver; interview requires original documents.

• Operator application

Licensing fees

Official route/source found

Operator application page states £130 for an initial one-year licence. Full current fee schedule not verified.

• Operator application

Taxi tariff

Official route/source found

Council resolved the July 2025 table takes effect 10 October 2025. First half-mile £4.50/£5.45/£7; then 35p per started 222/183/157 yards. Waiting 35p per 40/39/38.5 seconds. 2026 review refers further consideration to November, not an adopted replacement.

• Adoption 8 October 2025
• Adopted table Appendix A
• 2026 fare review

Mandatory qualifications

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

New drivers must pass a Red One taxi driving assessment and the council knowledge test, provide a GP medical report and complete approved safeguarding within twelve months of first licensing. Applicants should wait for the licensing officer's interview and instructions before booking checks. Enhanced DBS must be obtained through the council's uCheck process rather than independently, followed by the DBS Update Service for six-monthly checks. Overseas criminal-conviction or character evidence is required for countries where the applicant has lived for more than three months at a time. The parallel private-hire application page also specifies the driving assessment, knowledge test, medical and twelve-month safeguarding deadline. These requirements are confirmed, but the reviewed pages do not establish a separate disability-training certificate or refresher cycle.

• Driver application guidance updated 8 July 2026