Key facts
- Licensing authority
- Darlington Borough Council
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 122 taxis (7 wheelchair accessible), 153 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 360 drivers, 8 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 2.44 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Driver licence grant (hackney, private hire or dual): 1 year / 3 years
- £177.00 / £345.00[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Darlington?
275 vehicles in 2026 against 253 in 2024: taxis 137 → 122, private hire 116 → 153; 2.44 per 1,000 residents; 6% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 137 | 122 | down 11% |
| Private hire vehicles | 116 | 153 | up 32% |
| Driver licences | 356 | 360 | up 1% |
| Operator licences | 6 | 8 | up 33% |
How does Darlington compare with other councils in the North East?
Among councils in the North East, Darlington ranks 7th of 12 for vehicles per head (2.44 per 1,000, median 2.65). It ranks 11th for operators (8, median 30).[1]
| Measure | Darlington | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 2.44 | 2.65 | 7th of 12 |
| Operator licences | 8 | 30 | 11th of 12 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 19 | 16 | 6th of 12 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 6% | 13% | 10th of 12 |
What does the Darlington market look like for an operator?
Darlington's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 44% taxis, 56% private hire of 275 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 19 PHVs per operator on average (153 across 8 licences).
- 1.3 drivers per vehicle (360 for 275): shared or double-shifted cars.
- 29% dual-licensed drivers, 169 PHV-only, 86 taxi-only.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 12 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Darlington differ from other councils?
2 departures from the usual rules in Darlington's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face an emission standard, and drivers must carry out daily roadworthiness checks.[1]
- No knowledge test for Darlington private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- Policy last updated: 2026, by Darlington's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Darlington grant?
2 new, 3 renewed; 8 in force (6 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Darlington?
From Darlington Borough Council's own fee page, read 08/11/2026. Fees are reviewed each year, usually from April, so check the page before you apply.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Driver licence grant (hackney, private hire or dual): 1 year / 3 years | £177.00 / £345.00 |
| Driver licence renewal: 1 year / 3 years | £84.00 / £252.00 |
| DBS enhanced disclosure | £49.50 |
| Operator licence grant: 1 year / 5 years | £557.00 / £1,218.00 |
| Operator licence renewal: 1 year / 5 years | £368.00 / £1,029.00 |
| Operator levy per PHV operated: 1 year / 5 years | £11.00 / £53.00 |
| Hackney carriage vehicle licence: grant / renewal | £404.00 / £373.00 |
| Private hire vehicle licence: grant / renewal | £389.00 / £357.00 |
| Electric or disabled-access vehicle | 25% off the licence fee (not plates) |
Darlington Borough Council: Licensing fees, read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Darlington driver licence?
Driver licence grant (hackney, private hire or dual): 1 year / 3 years: £177.00 / £345.00, according to Darlington Borough Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Darlington?
8 at 1 April 2026, 6 at 1 April 2024 (DfT).
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] DfT taxi and private hire vehicle statistics 2026, tables TAXI0104-TAXI0112 (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] GOV.UK: Driver licences for taxis and private hire vehicles (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] Darlington Borough Council: Licensing fees (read 8 Nov 2026)
