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Taxi licensing

Taxi licensing in Northern Ireland: operator, driver and vehicle

In Northern Ireland the Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) licenses taxis centrally. A taxi operator licence costs £140 to apply for, as a small (up to two taxis) or large licence, plus a grant fee; a taxi driver licence is £140 with theory and practical tests; a taxi vehicle licence is £147 including the vehicle test.

Last updated 5 official sourcesTaxiDex team

Key facts

Licensing body
Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA), applications through DVA Online
Operator licence application fee
£140[1]
Operator licence types
Small (up to 2 taxis at any one time) or large (no limit)[1]
Driver licence fee
£140 first time, £105 renewal[2]
Vehicle licence fee
£147, including the taxi vehicle test[3]
Apply ahead
Operator 8 weeks, driver 16 weeks, vehicle 6 weeks[1]

Getting an operator licence

  1. 1

    Set up a nidirect account

    Applications are online only, through DVA Online, with a verified identity.[1]

  2. 2

    Choose small or large

    Small allows up to two taxis available at any one time; large has no limit. You cannot change type later without a new application.[1]

  3. 3

    Apply at least 8 weeks ahead

    Pay the £140 application fee.[1]

  4. 4

    Pay the grant of licence

    The grant fee depends on licence type, length and number of vehicles; you need at least one licensed taxi driver and one vehicle with a valid PSV to complete it.[1][4]

How do you become a taxi driver in Northern Ireland?

Apply to the DVA at least 16 weeks before you want to start. First-time applicants, and anyone renewing more than two years after their last licence expired, must pass the taxi driver theory test and practical test; renewals need periodic training. The fee is £140, or £105 to renew.[2]

How do you license a taxi vehicle in Northern Ireland?

Apply at least six weeks before the vehicle goes on the road. The £147 application fee includes the taxi vehicle test, and the DVA publishes assessment guides for its taxi classes.[3]

How is Northern Ireland different from England?

Licensing is run centrally by the DVA rather than by local councils, and the business licence is a taxi operator licence for all taxi work, not a private hire operator licence.[1][5]

Frequently asked questions

How much is a taxi licence in Northern Ireland?

£140 for a first taxi driver licence (£105 to renew), £147 for a taxi vehicle licence including the test, and £140 to apply for an operator licence plus a grant fee.

Can I upgrade a small operator licence to a large one?

Not by amending it: the type cannot change once assessed, so you make a new application.

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. [1] nidirect: Apply for a taxi operator licence (read 2 Nov 2026)
  2. [2] nidirect: Apply for or renew a taxi driver licence (read 2 Nov 2026)
  3. [3] nidirect: Apply for a taxi vehicle licence (read 2 Nov 2026)
  4. [4] Department for Infrastructure (NI): Taxi operator licensing fee guide (read 2 Nov 2026)
  5. [5] GOV.UK: Operator licences for private hire vehicles (read 2 Nov 2026)

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