Gravesham taxi and private-hire licensing

RESEARCHED AUTHORITY

Gravesham

Gravesham Borough Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026

Driver licensing

Official route/source found

A Group2 medical under three months old must be completed by the applicant's GP or a GP with medical-record access. Provide the D4 form and GP declaration, DVLA code, right-to-work evidence and photograph. Applicable tax checks and DBS checks form part of the process.

Vehicle licensing

Official route/source found

The application requires a basic criminal-record certificate for the proprietor. A Gravesham-licensed vehicle needs an appropriately Gravesham-licensed driver. Complete vehicle criteria remain outstanding.

• Vehicle application

Operator licensing

Official route/source found

Normally five years; one-year terms need strong justification. Apply online with planning permission, appropriate public/employers liability insurance, safeguarding training, driver/vehicle list, applicable Basic DBS and right-to-work evidence. Partners, company directors and secretary are covered by the individual evidence/training requirements. Overseas criminal records with English/certified translation are needed when the stated three-year UK residence test is unmet. Tax checks apply to renewals, recently lapsed or equivalent existing licences; first-time applicants declare tax awareness. An application is valid only after documents and payment are complete.

• Current operator application guidance

Licensing fees

Official route/source found

Current page: up to five vehicles £731 for five years or £248 for one year; over five vehicles £1,454 for five years or £489 for one year. One-year terms are discretionary. No fee commencement date stated.

• Vehicle application
• Current operator application guidance

Taxi tariff

Official route/source found

Current joint licensing page: £3.40 first 320 yards; 20p per started 125.71 yards or 40 seconds stationary, changing after six miles to 110 yards. Night midnight–06:00, bank holidays, festive eves after 18:00 and 5–8 passengers add 50%; Sunday daytime 1–4 passengers adds 60p. Named festive periods and 5–8 passengers at night double base fare; Sunday daytime 5–8 uses 150% plus 60p. Soiling £75 and actual sundry charges. No effective date printed.

• Current Gravesham/Medway joint fare page

Mandatory qualifications

Official route/source found

New applicants must pass the appropriate knowledge test, then safeguarding and disability-awareness virtual-classroom courses through Blue Lamp Trust or Green Penny. A practical driving assessment follows through Green Penny, Diamond or AA DriveTech; new hackney applicants also require an accessibility assessment. Knowledge passes expire after two years without licensing. Enhanced DBS and Group 2 medical evidence must be less than three months old, and DBS Update Service enrolment is required. Right-to-work and driving-history checks also apply. This is the current shared Gravesham/Medway application workflow; authority-specific policies still govern eligibility.

• Current official driver application requirements