Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Norwich?
The biggest change since April 2024 is in taxis: 167 then, 119 now. With 4.43 licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents, Norwich sits below the England figure of 5.84. 100% of its taxis are wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 167 | 119 | down 29% |
| Private hire vehicles | 427 | 533 | up 25% |
| Driver licences | 597 | 630 | up 6% |
| Operator licences | 38 | 57 | up 50% |
How does licensing in Norwich differ from other councils?
Norwich differs from most councils on 5 points in its 2026 return to the DfT. On vehicles, taxis and private hire vehicles face an age limit.[1]
- No English test for Norwich drivers, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- Norwich operators' call-takers and dispatchers need no DBS check; about 2 in 3 councils require one.
- No convictions policy required of Norwich operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Norwich asks operators to record 8 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out time booking is made and driver licence number and name of dispatchers and date booking is made.
- Policy last updated: before 2022, by Norwich's own account to the DfT.
What did Norwich report about operator licences?
13 new Norwich operator applications, 0 renewals, with 57 operator licences in force on 1 April 2026, in Norwich City Council's 2026 return to the DfT. See what Norwich operators must record.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Norwich?
From Norwich City Council's fee page, read 02/11/2026.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hackney carriage vehicle (1 year) | £165 |
| Hackney carriage driver (3 years): new / renewal | £436 (+ £103 later) / £282.50 |
| Private hire vehicle (1 year) | £128.50 |
| Private hire driver (3 years): new / renewal | £303 (+ £90 later) / £226.50 |
| Private hire operator (5 years): new / renewal | £945.50 / £903 |
| Knowledge test | £28 |
Norwich City Council licence fees page, last updated May 2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Norwich driver licence?
Hackney carriage driver (3 years): new / renewal: £436 (+ £103 later) / £282.50, according to Norwich City Council's fee page when we read it.
What happens if a Norwich driver gets a conviction?
Licence holders must tell the council in writing within seven days of any conviction, caution or penalty notice, including motoring offences. The council also checks the national NR3 register of refusals, revocations and suspensions, where entries are kept for 25 years.
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] 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)
- [2] GOV.UK: Driver licences for taxis and private hire vehicles (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] Norwich City Council: Taxi and private hire licence fees (last updated May 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [4] Norwich City Council: Frequently asked questions, taxi and private hire (read 2 Nov 2026)
Related
- Taxi licence costs across UK councils
- Private hire operator licence explained
- Taxi knowledge test: what councils test
- Hackney carriage vs private hire: what is the difference?
- How long does it take to get a taxi licence?
- Taxi and private hire licensing in Wolverhampton
- Taxi and private hire licensing in London