Folkestone and Hythe taxi and private-hire licensing

RESEARCHED AUTHORITY

Folkestone and Hythe

Folkestone and Hythe District Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026

Driver licensing

Official route/source found

Applicants need a full driving licence held12 months, matching residential address and permission to work. Overseas criminal checks cover the prior10 years where UK residence is shorter or overseas absence exceeds3 continuous months; authenticated originals and accredited English translations are required.

• Driver

Vehicle licensing

Official route/source found

A locally licensed taxi driver must be named on the vehicle insurance before the application can be processed. Full vehicle criteria remain unextracted.

• Vehicle

Operator licensing

Official route/source found

Five-year licences require an operating address within the district, application through MyAccount, fee, Basic DBS (with the stated enhanced-check/online-certificate exemption), overseas criminal-record evidence if UK residence is under ten years or overseas absence is at least three continuous months, and a tax-obligation declaration. Renewal requires a tax-check code. Suitability concerns may go to a subcommittee. Current page lists £130 single-vehicle or £1,050 multiple-vehicle fees, but these should be reconciled with the already researched 2026/27 fee schedule before treating them as the current payable amount.

• Current operator application page

Licensing fees

Official route/source found

Approved2026/27 schedule: driver£377.20; knowledge test£75.90; annual vehicle£300; vehicle transfer£115. Five-year operator renewal single/multiple vehicle£130/£1,050.

• Approved2026/27fees

Taxi tariff

Official route/source found

Current passenger page: daily 06:00–midnight £3.40 includes 704 yards, then 20p per 176 yards and 20p per 33 seconds waiting. Night midnight–06:00 and bank holidays use £5.10/30p/30p; festive December 24 18:00–27 06:00 and December 31 18:00–January 2 06:00 use £6.80/40p/40p. Extras are 20p per passenger beyond one, 20p per luggage item outside the passenger compartment, and £50 soiling. Outside-district fares may be agreed beforehand; otherwise the meter maximum applies.

• Current taxi passenger fares

Mandatory qualifications

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

Applicants first pass Green Penny English screening before booking the council knowledge test. Private hire applicants take the private hire test; dual applicants take the hackney test, presenting the English certificate, passport and driving licence. A driving assessment through Green Penny or Blue Lamp Trust and safeguarding training through Green Penny are required, with certificates uploaded. Full driving entitlement must have been held for twelve months. Medical, enhanced DBS with Update Service enrolment and right-to-work evidence are also required.

• Pre-application tests
• Application evidence