New driver application process

We will only issue licences to those applicants that we consider to be ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence.

Applicants are expected to act with honesty and integrity throughout the application process, and must therefore fully and accurately disclose any information that is requested. This includes information regarding previous convictions, warnings and reprimands, current investigations and pending criminal proceedings.

There is no statutory definition of what constitutes a ‘fit and proper’ person, however we will take a number of factors into account, and set specific criteria for applicants, when considering a licence application. These factors and criteria are detailed below:

Documents

Driving licence

Applications will only be accepted from applicants who are aged 21 years old or older and that have held a full driving licence issued in the UK, the European Community (EC) or one of the other countries in the European Economic Area (EEA) for at least 12 months (the requirement is to have held the full licence for at least 12 months, not 12 months since the date that the driver passed the driving test).

EC/EEC licence

Applicants can drive in Great Britain on a full, valid driving licence. If applicants are younger than 67 when they became a resident, they can drive on their EU licence until they are 70. If they were 67 or older when they became a resident, they can drive on their EU licence for 3 years after that point.

Applicants can exchange their EU licence for a UK licence when they can not drive on it anymore.

Any other country

Applicants can drive in Great Britain on a full, valid driving licence for 12 months from when they became resident. After 12 months they will need to apply for a provisional licence and pass the theory and practical driving tests to drive in the UK.

Driving licence check

The counterpart of the driving licence has now been abolished and endorsements are recorded electronically by the DVAS. In order for applicants to confirm their driving licence record to us they will be required to access their record by logging onto the  GOV.UK share driving licence service where they can generate a “Check Code” which must be supplied with their application. This service is free and should be used by both paper and photo card driving licence holders. We will be unable to process an application until confirmation of the DVSA licence has been supplied.

Motoring offences will be dealt with in accordance with the Authority’s Statement of Policy about Relevance of Convictions. 

Qualifications and skills

Applicants (who are not existing licence holders) that submit their application for a drivers licence on or after the date on which this policy comes into effect will be required to provide evidence of the following qualifications / skills before a licence will be issued:

  • English language standard

English language standard

Applicants must provide evidence of ability in English (speaking and listening) at least to Entry Level 3 standard (as defined in the Regulated Qualifications Framework); or a similar qualification at an equivalent level.

Applicants who have an international qualification must be able to satisfy us that the qualification meets the requirement of English (speaking and listening) to Entry Level 3. UK NARIC (www.naric.org.uk) is the designated UK national agency for the recognition and comparison of international qualifications and skills. We will accept an English Language Assessment completed by NARIC showing the applicant has a qualification equivalent to Entry Level 3 English.

We reserve the right to refuse to accept a certificate of qualification as proof of an applicant or licence holder meeting a requirement if it is not satisfied as to the authenticity of the certificate or the quality / reliability of any part of the process that lead to the certificate being issued.

You can view all fees and charges relevant to the driver application process on our licensing fees and charges page.

Stage 1 - Driver knowledge test and induction course

Any person wishing to apply for a hackney carriage/private hire driver’s licence must undertake the driver knowledge test and induction course before the application can be submitted. 

Cost

  • The fee for a Knowledge Test is £95.00.
  • You will be sent a payment receipt reference, you need this reference to enter on the web form. 

Payment

  • Select licensing from the "all categories" drop down menu.
  • Click apply.
  • Select Knowledge test.
  • Make your payment.

Booking Form

You can book a knowledge test by completing the online booking form.

We will then email you with a selection of available dates for the knowledge test.

If you cannot attend the date you have booked on to you must notify us within 48 hours otherwise you will be charged for the test.

Results 

A pass result in the driver knowledge test is an essential criteria in determining whether your licence will be granted.

Stage 2 – Document verification 

You will be contacted by email and invited to submit your new driver application via our online form.

On the form you will be required to provide the supplementary documents listed below and the remainder of the application fee:

  • One colour passport type photograph
  • DVLA photocard driving licence or old style paper driving licence in your current address
  • Proof of current address which is less than three months old (utility bill, bank statement)
  • Check code from the DVLA for viewing driving licence details
  • Overseas criminal record check/certificate of good conduct (if applicable)
  • Birth certificate
  • Certificate of Naturalisation issued by the Home Office (if applicable)
  • Biometric Residence Permit (if applicable)
  • Proof that you are legally permitted to work in the UK
  • Proof of ability in English (speaking and listening) at least to Entry Level 3 standard
  • Passport
  • Proof of national insurance number
  • Any other documents that we may reasonably request to help progress the application
  • The correct fees (any fees for the knowledge test etc are non-refundable)

A medical and DBS will be requested following the acceptance of your application and supporting documets.

Next stage

When the fee has been paid in full and all the required documents submitted we will progress the application to the next stage.

If you fail to provide the full fee or any of the required documents, including the DBS certificate and medical, within 12 months of passing the knowledge test the application will be rejected and you will be required to re-sit the knowledge test.

Stage 3 – Determination of the application

Once the above stages have been completed, and provided we have all of the required documentation and information set out in stage two, we can assess your application in full.

In determining the application, we will consider:

  • The results of your driver knowledge test.
  • The application form.
  • All those items listed at stage two of the application process, including your medical certificate and DBS certificate.
  • Trafford Council’s policy.

Stage 4 - Application outcome

Granted licenses 

Where you have completed all stages of the application process satisfactorily, in that there is no question as to whether you are a fit and proper person, in accordance with our scheme of delegation, the licence will be granted by the Licensing Officers.

Sub committee 

Where our policy and scheme of delegation dictates, the application may be referred to our Public Protection Sub Committee for its determination as to whether or not the applicant is a fit and proper person and also, whether a driver licence should be granted.

The options available to the Sub Committee are to either grant the licence or to refuse to grant the licence.

Appeals

If you are aggrieved by a decision made by the Sub Committee you can, within 21 days of receipt of the written decision, appeal against the decision to:

Manchester Magistrates’ Court, Crown Square, Wood Street, Manchester, M60 1PR

Stage 5 - Issue of the licence

Once the application has been granted we will email you a electronic copy of the licence and your badges will be sent to you in the post via special delivery.

Licence period

Hackney carriage and private hire driver licences are granted for a period of three years, except where matters arise that the Sub Committee or Licensing Manager believe make it appropriate, in the circumstances, to issue a licence for less than three years.

Where an applicant('s)

  • wishes to have a one year licence
  • is due to retire or cease being a licensed driver
  • right to work visa is due to expire
  • DBS certificate is due to expire (three years from issue of the certificate)

Working restrictions 

If there are restrictions to the length of time you may work in the UK, the licence will not be issued for any longer than this period. In such circumstances an immigration check will be repeated each time the driver applies to renew the licence.

If, during this period, the driver is disqualified from holding a licence because they have not complied with the UK’s immigration laws, the licence will lapse and the driver must return it to us.