St. Helens taxi and private-hire licensing

RESEARCHED AUTHORITY

St. Helens

St Helens Borough Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026

Driver licensing

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

The council’s taxi policy, amended 30 December 2025, is the detailed source for driver licensing conditions; applicants should use the live council application route and policy together because this review does not reproduce every condition.

• St. Helens council driver source

Vehicle licensing

Official route/source found

The council's vehicle requirements page specifies 4–8 passengers, four doors/wheels and luggage space. PH vehicles are right-hand drive except limousines, need a spare wheel/space-saver, and cannot be LTI or Metrocab types. Seats requiring movement for exit should be checked with Licensing before purchase. HC vehicles require wheelchair access/secure carriage, a driver partition and illuminated taxi roof sign; sliding doors need linked warning signage. The page states no vehicle age or colour restrictions, subject to condition. LPG/bi-fuel conversions need an approved installer's certificate.

• Current vehicle requirements

Operator licensing

Official route/source found

Current application guidance requires an online form, proposed council-approved door-sign design, driver/vehicle list, planning confirmation for the base, applicable tax-check code and basic DBS within one month for non-driver applicants and company partners/directors. Door signs must identify private hire, operator and permitted contact route; taxi/cab wording and mobile numbers are prohibited. January 2024 conditions remain directly linked. Bookings and complaints must be retained at least 12 months; electronic booking entries must not be alterable/deletable. Report complaints within 24 hours and submit the fare scale annually on 1 April, with changes notified before use. Base staff need basic DBS within one month before employment, a recorded staff register and council safeguarding training within two months of starting. Maintain an ex-offender employment policy. Drivers, vehicles and operator must be licensed by the same authority. Current guidance offers both one-year and five-year operator licences; fees are separate from these requirements.

• St. Helens council operator source
• Current official operator licensing requirements and policy evidence
• Current official operator licensing requirements and policy evidence

Licensing fees

Official route/source found

For 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027, a new combined hackney/private-hire driver licence costs £199 for three years or £98 for one year; renewal is £185 or £75. A 12-month hackney or private-hire vehicle licence is £270. Private-hire operator fees are fleet-banded: one vehicle costs £612 for five years or £138 for one year, rising to £3,642 or £745 for fleets of 101 or more. The council separately lists application, DBS, DVLA, training, compliance, replacement and transfer charges.

• Taxi licensing fees, 1 April 2026 to 31 March 2027

Taxi tariff

Official route/source found

Current-linked official card operative 22 December 2023. All bands include the first 300 metres or part. R1 08:01–20:59: £2.60 then 20p per started 150 metres. R2 21:00–08:00, bank holidays except R3, and Easter Sunday: £3.20 then 20p per started 110 metres. R3 Christmas Eve 10:00 through 27 December 08:00 and New Year's Eve 10:00 through 2 January 08:00: £4.20 then 20p per started 85 metres. Waiting in all bands is 10p per started 20 seconds. Fouling £25; abnormal-load charge up to £10 must be advised before departure, excluding wheelchairs, pushchairs, suitcases, handheld luggage and shopping bags. Applicable tolls are additional. Source columns independently visually checked; bank-holiday wording belongs to R2.

• Current passenger page links operative fare card
• Official visually verified fare card

Mandatory qualifications

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

Applicants complete the council's essential training covering safeguarding and disability awareness. Conversational and written English are checked during the session, including written questions afterwards. A Group 2 medical must be completed by a GP with access to medical records and is valid for two months. DBS Update Service registration and original application documents are also required before grant. Refresher cadence and any separate practical/locality examination are not confirmed by this application-page review.

• Driver application steps