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Licence - hackney carriage drivers'

First application

To apply for a Hackney Carriage Drivers Licence you must comply with the following:

  • You must of held a current full ordinary drivers licence (not a provisional) for a FULL 12 months - You are not eligible to apply unless it is a full 12 months
  • Are you over 21 years old? - Persons under 21 must attend an "under 21" interview
  • Have you any convictions? - You will need to discuss any convictions initially with licensing staff and they will advise you or refer you to the appropriate officer
  • Have you a medical condition? - You will need to discuss any medical condition with licensing staff

There are four stages for this application, these are:

Stage one

If you are eligible to apply you must complete and return to the Licensing Admin section on Floor one, Telegraph House , Baillie Street, Rochdale the following:

  • A completed application form. This form must be signed in the space provided by two licensed Hackney Carriage proprietors
  • A completed Statutory Declaration Form (sworn before a Solicitor of Commissioner for Oaths)
  • Bring in your current ordinary driver's licence for checking
  • Pay the appropriate fee (do not send cash by post. A cheque must be crossed and made payable to RMBC.  Please write on the reverse of the cheque the guarantee card number)
  • Produce your national insurance number
  • Supply two recent passport size photographs

Please note: original documents MUST be produced at every application submitted

Stage two
  • An appointment will be given to you for an AREA KNOWLEDGE TEST
  • You will be required to pass this verbal knowledge test on the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale.  You will be given a list of 75 locations to learn and you will be asked how to get to any of the locations at random to a total of 20
  • You are allowed three tests, the first is included in the application fee and each further test will cost a set fee.  Once you have passed this test you will be given a Medical form to be completed by your own GP
Stage three
  • Submit the completed medical examination form
  • You are responsible for paying the Medical Practitioners fee
  • When you hand in the medical form and it has been checked and found to  be satisfactory you will be given a vetting form and a further fee is payable
Stage four
  • The vetting form will be sent off to the Criminal Records Bureau for checking
  • Please note that a 8 to 12 week delay may occur
  • After it has been returned to the Licensing office it is checked and if found to be satisfactory a badge and license will be issued

Fees

Hackney Carriage/Private Hire/Street Trading and Car Boot fees
Description   Fee (£)
Public and Private Hire  
Drivers -  
        Initial application 83
        Renewal 56
        Combined initial 128
        Combined renewal 96
        Area knowledge test 26
        Replacement badge 11
        DVLA check 8
        Duplicate licence 5
        Replacement lanyard 1
        Drivers declaration 6
   
Vehicles -    
        Annual fee 273
        Plate fee  20
        Change of vehicle 84
        Change of owner  26
        Retest charge 40
        Duplicate licence 5
        Replacement window stickers 2
        Dash windows 2
   
Private Hire Operators -  
        1 vehicle 159
        2 - 10 vehicles 303
        11 - 20 vehicles 425
        21 - 30 vehicles 546
        Over 30 vehicles 667
   
Miscellaneous -  

Information letter (cost includes up to 1 hours work and cost of letter)                                          

68
Information check (each subsequent hour or part thereof)       16
Insurance 35
   
Street Trading  
        Consent 625
        Licence 936
   
Car Boot Sales  
        Licensed car boot sales  
                per event 39
                per car 2
   
        Council run boot sales  
                per car 8