Taxis and private hire vehicles (minicabs) in the UK must be licensed. Outside London, the local council issues licences in England, Wales and Scotland. In London, Transport for London (TfL) issues them, and in Northern Ireland the Driver & Vehicle Agency (DVA) does. There is no single national register, so how you check a licence depends on who issued it.

To get a licence, a driver must be judged a “fit and proper person”, which usually means an enhanced criminal record (DBS) check. Depending on the area, they may also need a medical, a local knowledge test, a driving test and an English test.

Why check a taxi licence

  1. Checks and accountability. A licence means the driver and vehicle have passed the licensing authority’s checks, and you can complain to that authority if something goes wrong.
  2. Insurance. Unlicensed cars, and minicabs you have not booked, are not insured to carry paying passengers.
  3. Fares. Taxi (hackney carriage) fares are set by the council, or by TfL in London. Private hire fares are not regulated, so agree the price or get an estimate when you book.

Only licensed taxis can be hailed in the street or taken from a rank. Minicabs must be pre-booked. Never get into a minicab you have not booked.

What a licence looks like

There are usually two things to look for:

  1. Driver’s badge. The driver should wear a badge or ID showing their photo and licence number. In London this is compulsory at all times while working.
  2. Vehicle licence. The vehicle should show a licence plate or disc from the licensing authority. In London, taxis carry a white plate on the back, and minicabs show licence discs on the front and rear windscreens. Other councils use their own designs.

If there is no badge or no vehicle licence, do not get in. Book another car instead.

Checking a licence online

Many councils publish a public register of licensed drivers and vehicles online. If yours does not, contact its licensing team. To check:

  1. Find out which authority issued the licence. It is shown on the driver’s badge and the vehicle’s plate or disc, and it is not always the council for the area you are in.
  2. Go to that authority’s website and look for its taxi and private hire licensing pages or public register.
  3. Search by licence number, name or vehicle registration, depending on what the register allows.
  4. Compare the result with the badge and the plate or disc.

The register usually shows whether the licence is current and what type it is.

Useful links

Manchester City Council taxi and private hire licensing page

What to do if the licence is expired or missing

If the details do not match, or the driver will not show a badge:

  1. Do not get into the car.
  2. Note the car’s details (registration, make and colour).
  3. Report it to the licensing authority: the council, TfL in London, or the DVA in Northern Ireland. In Northern Ireland, report unlicensed taxis to the PSNI.
  4. If the driver is aggressive or you feel in danger, call the police (999 in an emergency, 101 otherwise).

Tips for passengers

  • always look for the driver’s badge and the vehicle’s licence plate or disc;
  • book minicabs through a licensed operator or its app;
  • if the car or driver does not match your booking, do not get in;
  • at airports and stations, ignore drivers who approach you offering a ride. A minicab is only legal if you booked it, so use the official taxi rank or a pre-booked car.

Checking a licence takes a couple of minutes: look at the badge and the plate or disc, and if you are unsure, search the licensing authority’s register.

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