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New driver applications

Please refer to the guidance note below before completing your application form online.

Complete this form if you are also a driver that is returning to the trade within the last 3 years.

All new applicants need to complete an 'intention to apply' application form online. Please ensure you have the following documents in front of you:

  • DVLA driving licence
  • Proof of right to work in the UK. You can find out what documents are acceptable by visiting GOV.UK.
  • Certificate of good conduct - if you have lived outside the UK for three months or more since the age of 18. See Home Office guidance
  • Licence fee - by debit or credit card only. View details of taxi licence fees.

You will also be required to submit an enhanced DBS and medical, however these can be submitted at a later date. 

We are currently experiencing a high volume of applications and unfortunately we are not able to meet our normal timescales.  We will contact you to arrange a face to face appointment as soon as we can.  We are busy dealing with renewals for our existing licensees and these must take priority. Please be patient.  Once you have submitted your application, please do not contact us as we will contact you as soon as we are ready to proceed with your application.

We look forward to receiving your application.

Intention to apply for a Taxi Driver (New) (opens new tab)


Additional steps

Knowledge of Plymouth 

Cost

The fee is £72 and must be paid when you book a date to take the knowledge test.
Contact the Licensing Office on 01752 304141 to book your test. The test will take no more than 2 hours.
Please arrive 15 minutes before the test is due to start as late arrivals will not be accepted.

Test conditions

Prior to commencing the test, the invigilators will outline to all candidates the rules that will be applied throughout the duration of the test.
Candidates are not allowed to keep any items (including electronic devices) on them or on or around the table. 
Candidates are carefully monitored throughout the test and anyone who is talking or thought to be cheating will be immediately excluded.

Test paper

The test paper carries a total of 100 marks and the pass mark is 85 per cent. The paper is set out as follows:

Section A 

This section asks you to identify 20 venues or points of interest (street names). Each correct answer is worth one mark, although half marks may be awarded for partially correct answers. This section is worth a total of 20 marks.

Knowledge test venue list

Section B

This section has 15 questions that ask you to outline the most direct route from one place to another naming each street, road and raised roundabout that you'll need to take. Each question is worth four marks for a correct answer, although half a mark may be awarded for missing roundabouts or Roads/Streets This section is worth a total of 60 marks.

Knowledge test routes

Knowledge-test-routes

Section C

This section has 20  questions that cover a range of work related issues such as taxi law and conditions of licence. Each correct answer is worth one mark, although half marks may be awarded for partially correct answers. This section is worth a total of 20 marks.

Knowledge test Law and Conditions

We'll call you within 7 working days to let you know whether you have passed or failed. A pass mark will not be given although we'll tell you a failure mark and give general feedback about the area(s) that need attention.

A further appointment to re-sit can then be made subject to payment of the appropriate fee.

The Council expect any applicant to be able to pass a Knowledge of Plymouth test within a maximum of 3 attempts. An applicant will not be entitled to re-sit any test after 3 failures unless they can demonstrate how they intend to deal with improving their learning outcomes. Further tests may be agreed at the discretion of a licensing enforcement officer or manager.

Driving Standards Test

Before you pay for your driving test

You must have attended your first new driver appointment at the Taxi Licensing Office, completed your application form and received your Welcome Letter before you can pay for your driving test.  If you have not completed this appointment or do not have your Welcome Letter please contact 01752 304141.  Please note that the driving test will not be valid if you complete it before you have attended your initial appointment.

How to pay

You will need to pay for the test before you contact Citybus to arrange the appointment.  

Where to take the test

Once payment has been made you will need to print off the receipt and contact the driver training centre at City Bus, Milehouse, Plymouth, PL3 4AA on 01752 264251. If no answer, please send a text to 07966275300 or email direct russ.champion@gosouthwest.co.uk and give your details and contact number and someone from the City Bus test centre will call you back.

Things to bring with you

You need to bring your ‘Welcome Letter’ with you that you received at your first appointment.  This has your application number and photograph on the letter.  You must also bring your receipt of payment and your driving licence.  If you are using your own car, the examiner needs to see a valid MOT certificate and proof of car insurance.

The three parts of the Driving Test

Test part one

The examiner will ask you questions taken from the ‘question bank’. This usually contains two customer care, two highway-code, two mechanical principles and five traffic signs. If you get a question wrong that will be recorded as a minor driving fault. Get all six questions wrong and that will be recorded as a serious driving fault and will result in an immediate failure (at this point you will be given the option to continue with the test in order to gain experience for any future re-test).

Test part two

You'll be asked to carry out the following manoeuvres during the test:

  • Reverse around a corner to the left
  • Turn the car in the road

Test part three

You'll be asked to drive to venues chosen from the Council’s venues list and to streets or routes chosen from the knowledge test list. On completion you will be asked to return to Citybus, Milehouse by the shortest route. When you return to the test centre you'll be told  the result of your driving test.

Knowledge test venues

Knowledge test routes

All newly licensed drivers must complete a qualification in 'Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire' (or equivalent qualification) within 12 months of being issued a licence.

Tax check

Tax Checks

From 4 April 2022, you will need to complete a tax check with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) when you renew each of your taxi licences (driver, vehicle and operator).

How changes may affect you

What you need to do will depend on whether you’re applying for a licence for the first time or whether you’re making a subsequent application, such as renewing a licence.

Getting a new licence

If you are applying for a licence for the first time, you will not need to complete the tax check. However, you will be required to read HMRC guidance on what you need to do to be properly registered for tax in the future and you will need to confirm you have done this on your application form. Tax responsibilities guidance.

Renewing a licence

From 4 April 2022, every applicant will need to complete a tax check and provide a tax check code on your application, if you are:

  • Renewing a licence
  • Applying for the same type of licence they previously held, that ceased to be valid less than a year ago
  • Applying for the same type of licence they already hold with another licensing authority

About the tax check

You will be able to complete this tax check on GOV.UK, through your Government Gateway account. You will only need to answer a few questions to tell HMRC how you pay any tax that may be due on income you earn from your licensed trade. If you do not already have a Government Gateway account, you can sign up on GOV.UK

The tax check should only take a few minutes. Obtain your Tax code. Anyone who needs extra support will be able to complete the tax check by phone through HMRC’s customer helpline.

When you have completed the tax check, you will get a code. You must give this code to us on your application form. We cannot proceed with your licence application or renewal until the tax check is completed and we have received the code.

We will only receive confirmation from HMRC that you have completed the tax check, we will not have access to information about your tax affairs.

What you need to do

If you have not registered to pay tax on earnings from your licensed trade, please visit the following links to check if you need to register, as soon as possible.

If you’re an employee, find information on PAYE.

If you’re self-employed, find information on registering for Self Assessment.