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Lord Bingham said it means that you must be a safe driver with a good driving record and adequate experience, sober, mentally and physically fit, honest and not a person who would take advantage of their employment to abuse or assault passengers. It has also been put another way; that you are a person that a parent would entrust their child to be alone with in a car.

What do I need to provide when applying for a licence?

A CRB check, a medical report, a full driving licence (held for at least 12 months), date of knowledge test, 2 passport sized photos, a completed IDS mandate and a completed application form (which requests the names and addresses of 2 references). Full details are provided in an application pack obtainable from the Licensing Department, in person or by post.

Any applicant unable to provide a full 5 year address history in the UK must provide a Certificate of Good Conduct from their Embassy or Home Country Police and a Home Country Traffic Police Record, with English translation where necessary, to complete a total 5 year history.

Why do I have to have a CRB check every 3 years at extra cost?

HBC is required to ensure that licence holders are 'fit and proper' to hold licences. Part of that procedure is an initial and then periodic checks for any criminal record held or acquired over the time you are licensed. The only organisation permitted to do this is the CRB who set their own fee. The Council has no control over this matter.

May I use my CRB check and medical obtained elswhere?

You may be able to if they have been obtained in the last 12 months. The Licensing Officers will be able to give more specific advise as cases can vary.

Why am I required to complete an IDS mandate?

Under Health and Safety and Duty of Care requirements, local authorities are obliged to check that all hackney carriage and private hire drivers are correctly licensed to drive. HBC have outsourced the process to IDS in order to minimise the opportunity for data fraud. IDS will request your current endorsement and licence category information from the DVLA. HBC considers this check helpful in establishing whether a driver is a 'fit and proper person'. A full set of IDS frequently asked questions are supplied in the initial driver application pack.

About the Knowledge test

The public have a right to expect that the driver of a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle will know how to get to a destination therefore we ask initial driver applicants to take a knowledge test. You will need to book the test at HBC reception when submitting your application forms and enter the test date on the blue HBC application form. The test is in three parts: 1) check the applicant has sufficiently good eyesight to read a vehicle registration number, 2) a practical driving assessment lasting about 35 to 40 minutes making journies from one place to another using the shortest route, 3) 25 questions about the locations of places of interest within the Havant Borough. Once all three parts have been completed, the applicant will be told whether or not they have passed. Should there be a failure at part 2, a DSA test will be to be arranged (see section below). When attending to take the knowledge test, applicants should bring a car, valid insurance certificate, current MOT certificate if applicable, the DVLA driving licence (both part if photocard style) and the applicable fee. More details on the knowledge test are included in the driver application pack.

About the DSA test.

As a professional driver, you will have a special responsibility to ensure that your passengers have a safe, comfortable and enjoyable journey therefore we ask initial driver applicants who have failure part 2 of the Knowledge Test to sit a DSA test. You will need to contact the DSA and arrange a test date for the Hackney Saloon/Private Hire Saloon driver assessment test (type Z). The licensing deparmtnet will need to be informed of the test date. The DSA booking line is 0300 200 1122 or http://www.transportoffice.gov.uk/ There is an optional assessment that can be taken if you have a wheelchair accesssible vehicle. This is Hackney Wheelchair enhanced assessment test (type Z1). The DSA offices at Portsmouth and Gosport conduct the assessment tests and the optional wheelchair enhances assessment is only conducted at Gosport.

How long does a licence last?

A year from the date of issue.

Must I wear my badge?

Yes, customers expect to see a driver is licensed not only when they are in the car but also when they call to collect their passenger. It is a matter of public safety and reassurance.

May I use my car horn to let customers know I have arrived?

No, the unnecessary use of a vehicle horn is a criminial offence and contrary to the Council's code of conduct for drivers. The use of horns is a source of complaint to the Council from residents who readily identify licensed vehicles.

Do I have to accept bus tokens?

Not neccessarily, however, as private hire drivers work for an operator, it is the operator who should determine the company policy, not the driver or vehicle proprietor.

Can I stop at a 'Taxi rank'?

Only if you are driving a Hackney carriage and are with the vehicle. Private Hire drivers are not permitted to stop at a 'taxi rank'.

May I take bookings on my own behalf?

Hackney carriages can but private hire vehicles cannot - all their bookings must go through a Havant licensed operator.

May I drive for a company in another local authority area?

No, all 3 licences - driver, vehicle and operator - must be issued by Havant, however you may hold driver's licences for several areas.

Use of data to prevent and detect fraud

A full 'fair processing notice' giving links to the detailed statutory requirements is on the council's website link to 'fair processing notice'>>

Havant Borough Council