RESEARCHED AUTHORITY
Sefton
Sefton Council · Sources checked 9 September 2026
- Driver licensing
- Official route/source found
Current new-driver route for hackney-carriage and private-hire licences, updated 4 September 2026.
- Vehicle licensing
- Official route/source found
Current online route for new and renewed hackney-carriage and private-hire vehicles, with the required fitness, ownership and insurance evidence.
- Operator licensing
- Official route/source found
Current private-hire operator application route, including premises/planning and fit-and-proper requirements.
- Licensing fees
- Official route/source found
From 1 April 2026: three-year driver £126 plus £50 new-application fee; vehicle £160 one-year or £95 six-month; five-year operator £250 for 1-2 vehicles, £1,200 for 3-50, £1,500 for 51-100 or £1,700 for more than 100.
- Taxi tariff
- Official route/source found
Council decision on 1 September 2025 adopted starting charges of £3.20 Tariff 1, £4.00 Tariff 2, £4.40 Tariff 3 and £4.80 Tariff 4, with the published time bands and a maximum £50 fouling charge.
- Mandatory qualifications
- Official route/source found
Applicants must hold a driving licence for at least 12 months and complete enhanced DBS/Update Service, DVLA and right-to-work checks plus the knowledge test (seven correct answers from ten). The council states a VRQ is not required.