King's Lynn and West Norfolk taxi and private-hire licensing

RESEARCHED AUTHORITY

King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk · Sources checked 13 September 2026

Driver licensing

Official route/source found

Applicants must be over 18 and have held a full DVLA licence for at least 12 months. The council requires Group 2 medical fitness, an enhanced DBS check, right-to-work and DVLA-history checks, a driving-standards test, and its knowledge and safeguarding test. The online application asks for the fee and knowledge-test payment, DVLA and National Insurance numbers, followed by a 15-minute supporting-document appointment. Medical evidence is renewed at age 45, every five years thereafter, and annually from 65. Successful applicants receive a combined hackney-carriage and private-hire driver licence; the council says drivers are normally licensed for three years, with one year available on written request.

• Becoming a taxi driver

Vehicle licensing

Official route/source found

PH vehicles should be under seven years and120,000miles, with policy exceptions. Pass the approved-station vehicle test and MOT, then apply online with driver badge/right-to-work details and fee. Send test certificate, insurance certificate/schedule and V5 or purchase proof. The current page quotes £148 for one year, £22 signs and£39 ownership transfer. Front-door prebooked/operator signs are required. Report accidents within72hours. Cameras require written approval; inward cameras also require ICO registration. The outward-camera permission described is for insurance only and excludes in-cab audio.

• Current vehicle requirements

Operator licensing

Official route/source found

The operating premises must be suitable, not disturb the area and have any necessary planning permission. Apply with the fee, complete vehicle/driver list, Basic DBS within six months and right-to-work evidence. The page exempts existing local combined-driver licence holders from repeat DBS/right-to-work evidence. Notify changes of name or address. Fees depend on fleet size.

• Current operator guidance

Licensing fees

Official route/source found

The current driver-service-linked schedule is effective 1 April 2025, superseding the 2015 files still in the downloads directory. Combined driver new/renewal costs £192/£154 for one year, £382/£347 for three. Annual vehicle new/renewal: HC saloon £159/£149, HC wheelchair-accessible £191/£149, private hire £148/£133. Five-year operator new/renewal: one vehicle £304/£288; 2–10 £407/£391; 11–20 £585/£569; over20 £995/£979. DBS £57.50 and knowledge test £53 are additional. Vehicle transfer £39 and licence plate £20.

• Current linked council fees

Taxi tariff

Official route/source found

Effective 27 January 2025: £5.30 covers the first mile, then 23p for every subsequent 176 yards or uncompleted part. Waiting is 28p for each minute or uncompleted part. Hirings 23:30–06:00 and bank holidays add 50%; Sundays 06:00–23:30 add 30%. Five to eight-seat vehicles carrying more than four passengers may add 50%.

• Hackney carriage fare charge card (2025-01-27)

Mandatory qualifications

Official route/source found

Applicants must be over 18, hold twelve months' full DVLA entitlement, pass a driving standards test and the in-house knowledge examination, and meet medical, enhanced DBS and right-to-work requirements. The knowledge test lasts ninety minutes and covers English/maths, Highway Code, licence conditions/places of interest, safeguarding and disability awareness. All three sections require 85%; after three failures the applicant must wait six months to reapply. Enhanced DBS must be enrolled in the Update Service for six-monthly checks. Medical reports are required initially, at 45, five-yearly thereafter and annually from 65.

• Current official driver application requirements