Apply for Hackney, Private Hire or Driver Licence

Read all the guidance notes, conditions and policies before completing and submitting an application.

Driver Application

We are responsible for licensing hackney carriages (taxis) and private hire vehicles drivers. Anyone who acts as driver of any licensed hackney carriage or private hire vehicle (even when not carrying passengers) must hold a hackney carriage/private hire driver's licence. Any person may apply for a hackney carriage driver's licence.

We will not grant a licence:       

  • unless it is satisfied the applicant is a 'fit and proper person' to hold a driver's licence
  • to any person that has not held a full licence to drive a motor car for at least 12 months at the time of application.

To assess whether an individual is a 'fit and proper person' we will consider medical fitness, knowledge of the local area and criminal record history. Our policy on the relevance of convictions (PDF, 02.MB, 8 pages) may be taken into consideration.

Download the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver's Licence Conditions (PDF, 80KB, 3 pages).

Applicants for a hackney carriage/private hire driver need to complete a form. A criminal record check is required. You can apply for one through TAXIPLUS. Three Identification documents are required to be uploaded. Use our Identification document list guidance (PDF, 0.2MB, 3 pages) to determine which documents will be accepted.

You also need to have a Group 2 medical examination. You can get these from your GP (doctor) or another Medical Practitioner.

A knowledge test needs to be completed which is currently being carried out via a Microsoft Teams video call. View an Example - Hackney carriage/private hire driver’s knowledge test (PDF, 102KB, 3 pages).

Before applying, read the documents:

Use the forms listed below to apply:

Hackney Carriage Vehicle Application

Taxis can ply for hire in the street and at taxi ranks. Journeys do not have to be pre-booked.

A licenced taxi on the Isle of Wight must display a white plate on the rear of the vehicle and a smaller version in the front windscreen, just above the tax disc. These plates display the licence plate number, the registration number of the vehicle and the number of persons the vehicle may lawfully carry.

Fares for taxis are regulated by us, download the current table of fares (PDF, 0.5MB, 1 page).

Download the Hackney Carriage Proprietors Licence Conditions (PDF, 75KB, 4 pages).

All Hackney Carriage (Taxi) Vehicles require a licence, read the Hackney Carriage Proprietor Conditions (PDF, 75KB, 4 pages) before submitting an application.

Download and complete the Application for the (Grant) (Renewal) (Transfer) of a Hackney Carriage Proprietor’s Licence form (PDF, 243KB, 2 pages). 

Private Hire Operator and Vehicle Applications

Private hire vehicles cannot ply for hire in the street or at taxi ranks. Journeys must be pre-booked, normally by phone or in person.

A licenced private hire vehicle on Isle of Wight must display a yellow plate on the rear of the vehicle and a smaller version in the front windscreen. In addition yellow door stickers are fixed to the front doors. The plate and the door stickers display the number of the vehicle, expiry date, the registration number of the vehicle and the number of persons the vehicle may lawfully carry.

Fares for private hire vehicles are not regulated by us, the cost of a journey will normally be agreed with the operator prior to commencement of the journey.

Download the Private Hire Vehicle Conditions (PDF, 84KB, 4 pages).

Private Hire Operator's Licence is needed for the operator to invite or accept bookings for private hire vehicles. Each vehicle is required to have a Private Hire Vehicle licence.

Read the Private Hire Operator Conditions (PDF, 0.4MB, 2 pages) and Private Hire Vehicle Conditions (PDF, 84KB, 4 pages) before submitting.

Use the forms listed below to apply:

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