Where do taxi drivers come from?
Drivers already licensed by your authority (only they can drive your private hire work, because driver, vehicle and operator licences must come from the same authority), drivers leaving other local firms, referrals from your own drivers, and new entrants who need licensing from scratch.[1]
What must a new taxi driver pass?
Each council sets its own requirements, but most ask for a lot. In the DfT's 2026 survey almost all councils required enhanced DBS and barred list checks, 279 of 289 required child sexual exploitation training for private hire drivers, 247 of 289 a knowledge test for taxi drivers and 231 of 289 an English test for private hire drivers. GOV.UK says enhanced DBS checks usually take around 8 weeks.[2][3]
See how long it takes to get a taxi licence and the taxi knowledge test.
What should you offer taxi drivers?
A clear, honest deal: commission or rent you can explain on one page, enough work at the hours they want, and fast payment. Make sure the arrangement matches how the work really happens, because employment status follows reality, not labels.[4]
Models compared in how taxi companies make money; a starting contract in our driver agreement template.
How do you keep taxi drivers?
Pay accurately and on time, show drivers exactly how each fare was split, give them steady work, and listen when they leave.
In the TaxiDex driver app every completed job shows the total, the driver's share and the fleet's commission. More: six driver retention tactics.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a taxi driver shortage in the UK?
The national figures do not show one: England's driver licences rose 9% between 2024 and 2026. Availability can still be short at particular times; Northern Ireland's Department for Infrastructure cited challenges about the availability of taxis in the evenings and at weekends when it raised fares in 2023.
Can I recruit drivers licensed by another council?
For private hire, only if you also license them with your authority, or your operator licence is with theirs: driver, vehicle and operator licences must come from the same authority.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] GOV.UK: Operator licences for private hire vehicles (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] Department for Transport: Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, England: 2026, data tables TAXI0104, TAXI0105 and TAXI0108-TAXI0112 (figures at 1 April 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] GOV.UK: Criminal record checks when you apply for a role, how long it takes (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [4] GOV.UK: Employment status (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [5] Department for Transport: Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, England: 2026 (published 13 August 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [6] Department for Infrastructure (Northern Ireland): Maximum taxi fares to increase (10 November 2023) (read 2 Nov 2026)