RESEARCHED AUTHORITY
Hartlepool
Hartlepool Borough Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026
- Driver licensing
- Official route/source found
Publishes one- and three-year driver fees, vehicle grant/renewal fees and tiered one- and five-year private hire operator fees. Page states taxi licence fees have not increased from the previous year.
- Vehicle licensing
- Official route/source found
Publishes one- and three-year driver fees, vehicle grant/renewal fees and tiered one- and five-year private hire operator fees. Page states taxi licence fees have not increased from the previous year.
- Operator licensing
- Official route/source found
Publishes one- and three-year driver fees, vehicle grant/renewal fees and tiered one- and five-year private hire operator fees. Page states taxi licence fees have not increased from the previous year.
- Licensing fees
- Official route/source found
Publishes one- and three-year driver fees, vehicle grant/renewal fees and tiered one- and five-year private hire operator fees. Page states taxi licence fees have not increased from the previous year.
- Taxi tariff
- Official route/source found
Publishes four time-based tariffs, distance increments, waiting at 30p per minute, soiling up to £100 and passenger extras up to £3.
- Mandatory qualifications
- Official evidence found; detail still to confirm
New applicants need enhanced DBS, Group 2 medical evidence from a doctor with full records, and Barnardo's online CSE training before their knowledge test. The test covers Highway Code, taxi law, maths and CSE; local streets/routes apply to hackney and dual licences. Five failures cancel the application and trigger a six-month wait. The introductory webpage says the practical assessment may be passed within one year after licensing. However, the current-linked 2025 policy §§2.5 and 2.8 requires satisfactory approved driving-assessment evidence from new applicants. This timing conflict remains unresolved; applicants should obtain confirmation before relying on the one-year allowance. The council assesses English reading, speech and understanding during application and may require an additional test. The 2025 policy also requires 12 months' full driving experience, approved child/adult safeguarding training, enhanced DBS checks every six months with mandatory Update Service, and allows a further driving assessment where concerns arise.
Withheld or still needing confirmation
- Separate disability-training certificate and refresher requirements not established from current introduction.
- Practical assessment timing conflicts between current introduction and 2025 policy. Separate disability certificate and fixed refresher cadence remain unestablished.