Rossendale Borough Council are no longer sending information/application packs.  Information relating to the process of how to apply for a hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence can be found on this page.  Documents can be downloaded from the related downloads section to the right.  Once you have viewed all the information and should you wish to apply for the driver's licence (taxi badge), you will need a CRB application form.  Please click here to request this form.

For full and proper details of the application requirements, you must view paragraph 3.1 of our policy which can be viewed in the related downloads section to the right.

Please note that a hackney carriage always remains a hackney carriage.  It must adhere to the rules and regulations laid by Rossendale Council and can only be driven by drivers licensed by Rossendale Council.  We are not able to tell you where you can work and where you can't work, you must get advice from a solicitor if you want to work outside of the Rossendale area.

Forms and other information can be obtained by clicking here.

For either licence type, you must do the following:

Step 1:
Sit a Driving Standards Agency (DSA) test and receive a certificate showing successful completion of the practical taxi test (the private hire assesment).  You do not require the wheelchair assessment.  You can book your test online or by phone on 0300 200 1122.  If you have any queries regarding this element, you must contact the DSA and not the licensing department. The DSA test may be undertaken at any of the DSA test centres.

Step 2:
Phone 01706 252 531 to book an appointment to apply for a CRB.  You cannot use a CRB from another authority or any other one which has not been requested from Rossendale Council AND which is not dated within one month of your application for a driver's licence.  The fee for this is £54 and is payable at your first appointment.

Step 3:
If you have lived outside of the UK for a continuous period of one year or more in the last 10 years, you must obtain a Certificate of Good Conduct.  You must contact your Consulate for more information on this, and not the licensing department.

Step 4:
Contact your doctor and book an appointment for a Group 2 medical to be done.  This medical must be a group 2 one and it must be done by your own doctor.  We will not accept medicals done by another medical practitioner.  Group 2 medical guidance can be found online at http://www.dft.gov.uk/dvla/medical/taxi.aspx.

Step 5:
Complete your application form and get one passport sized photograph of yourself done.  It must be in colour, clear and endorsed.  Full requirements can be found at paragraph 2.8 of our policy which can be viewed in the related download section to the right.  Get your passport ready (or other proof of entitlement to work in the UK) as well as your full EU or UK driving licence, which you must have held for at least 12 months.

Step 6:
Once you have received your CRB back, you should prepare your application by getting all the required documents together.  You can then call into the Bacup Council offices between 9:00am and 12:00 (noon) on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays in order to deliver your application. We do not accept incomplete applications under any circumstances.  Payment should be made by debit/credit card.  We aim to process all applications within 30 working days.  We will contact you on the telephone numbers given in your application to let you know when the licence has been issued.  Please do not ring before this time to enquire about your application.

Summary:
To summarise, you require the following in order to apply for a hackney carriage or private hire driver's licence:

1. A DSA test certificate
2. A valid passport or other proof of entitlement to work in the UK
3. Overseas criminal history check (a Certificate of Good Conduct) - where applicable.
4. One photograph
5. A CRB disclosure
6. A group 2 medical
7. A full EU or UK driving licence
8. The fee of £120.
9. The completed hackney carriage/private hire driver licence application form

Please note that a driver's licence badge issued by Rossendale Borough Council will enable you to drive only vehicles that are licensed by Rossendale Borough Council.

Vehicle Licences (Hackney Carriage or Private Hire)

To licence a vehicle as a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle, you must view our policy, which can be viewed in the related downloads section and in particular, you must read paragraph 4.3.

Vehicles can only be licensed with this authority if they are under the age of 6 years and 364 days and cannot be licensed after it reaches the age of 9 years and 364 days.  For full vehicle requirements, you must view our policy which can be found in the related downloads section.

To summarise the application requirements, you must do the following:

Step 1:
Have your vehicle tested at an approved testing station.  Your vehicle must have an MOT and a "Rossendale Test" done.  We require this regardless of whether your vehicle is under the age of three.  Please note that unless you are going to apply for a private hire vehicle licence and work for a Rossendale private hire operator, you MUST present your vehicle as a hackney carriage vehicle to the garage (ie, with meter, roof sign etc). The approved testing stations are:

J A Taylors      Telephone:     01706 217 152
Glen Service   Telephone:     01706 873 988
Waterside      Telephone:     01706 260 101

Step 2:
Gather the following documents for your appointment.

1. The MOT
2. The Rossendale Test certificate
3. Your original insurance document (this will only be required when you collect your issued vehicle plates and not at the application stage).
4. The original Vehicle Registration Document
5. The completed hackney carriage/private hire vehicle licence application form
6. If applicable, a letter from the registered keeper of the vehicle stating that they have given their permission for the vehicle to be licensed.
7. The fee of £200.

Step 3:
Call into the Council offices in Bacup between the hours detailed below with your full application and fee. An officer will copy your original paperwork and take the fee from you. The application will be processed and you will receive a telephone call to let you know when your licence has been granted. Please be aware that the officer receiving your application will not check it and you must ensure that you have given us all the required paperwork and that your application is complete.