Key facts
- Driver licence (3 years), lowest seen
- £156, Wolverhampton (from 1 April 2026)[1]
- Driver licence (3 years), highest seen
- £452.40, Oxford dual licence, before tests and DBS[2]
- DBS Update Service
- £15 a year[14]
- Enhanced DBS checks
- Usually take around 8 weeks[15]
- Fees must reflect cost
- Councils may charge what is reasonable to cover licensing costs[16]
What does each council charge?
The table lists the main fees on each council's own page. They are not like-for-like: some quote a total, others split application and grant fees, and most charge tests, inspections and DBS checks on top.
Licence fee finder
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Private hire driver licence, 1 year / 3 years (from 1 April 2026) | £78 / £156 |
| Small operator (no more than 4 drivers and vehicles), 1 year / 5 years | £250 / £750 |
| Operator, 1 year / 5 years | £750 / £3,000 |
| New operator (a first licence is granted for 1 year only) | £1,000 |
Driver fees from the council's Spring 2026 newsletter; operator fees from its June 2026 operator licensing guide.
Source: City of Wolverhampton Council: Taxi and Private Hire Newsletter, Spring 2026 (driver fees from 1 April 2026) (read 2026-11-02). Fees are usually reviewed each April; check before you apply. Wolverhampton licensing in full →
What an operator needs
- An operator licence for the firm that takes the bookings (a booking office licence in Scotland)
- A licence for every driver, with the council's DBS check, medical and any tests
- A licence for every vehicle, with its inspection and plates
- In England and Wales, operator, driver and vehicle licences from the same council for the drivers and vehicles you dispatch
- Hire and reward insurance for every vehicle, and any liability cover your council asks for
| Authority | Driver licence | Vehicle licence (1 year) | Operator licence (5 years) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton | £156 (3 yrs) or £78 (1 yr) | Not published in the guide we read | £1,000 first year, then £3,000 |
| Walsall | £180 (3 yrs) | £250.28 new, £229.72 renewal | £350 / £550 new |
| Wirral | £125 application + £187 (3 yrs) | £192 new, £187 renewal | £528 to £1,419 |
| Rochdale | £258 first (3 yrs) | £339 new, £291 renewal + MOT | £1,042 (1 vehicle) |
| Manchester | £255 new (3 yrs) | £148 + inspection £60 to £180 | £2,790 |
| Birmingham | £277 new (3 yrs) | £196 private hire, £159 taxi | £1,329 to £37,563 |
| Norwich | £303 + £90 (private hire, 3 yrs) | £128.50 private hire, £165 taxi | £945.50 |
| York | £190 + £190 (3 yrs) | £280 private hire, £318 taxi | £236 to £1,067 |
| London (TfL) | £138 + £205 (from 1 June 2026) | £84 + £56 private hire, £70 + £50 taxi | Set by fleet size |
| Oxford | £407.40 private hire, £452.40 dual (3 yrs) | £309 private hire, £472 taxi | £2,886 / £5,772 |
| Leeds | £150 to apply; renewal £390 (3 yrs) | £135 + £45 inspection | £500 application |
| Luton | In the council's driver pack | £393.65 private hire, £471.40 taxi | £3,550.50 |
| Edinburgh | £246 new (1 yr), £231 renewal (3 yrs) | £853 new | Booking office £1,496 (1 yr) |
What else does a new driver pay for?
Usually an enhanced DBS check, a medical from your GP, the knowledge or topographical test, English and safeguarding training or tests, and sometimes a driving assessment. Many councils also ask drivers to join the DBS Update Service, which costs £15 a year.[14]
- Knowledge or topographical test: £28 in Norwich, £74 in Manchester, £87 in Oxford (with safeguarding), £90 in Edinburgh, £150 for a Birmingham hackney licence.
- DBS checks charged through the council: £49.50 plus £25 admin in York, £53.50 in Wirral, £61.72 in Walsall, £70 in Leeds.
- Courses: a £55 customer care course in Leeds, a £57.39 safeguarding and disability course in Oxford.
Why do fees differ so much between councils?
The law lets councils charge fees that cover the reasonable cost of issuing and enforcing licences, so each council's fees reflect its own costs, inspection regime and fleet size bands. Fees are usually reviewed every April.[16]
How long does it take to get licensed?
Plan for weeks, not days: GOV.UK says enhanced DBS checks usually take around 8 weeks, and tests, training and inspections need bookings too. See how long it takes to get a taxi licence.[15]
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest council for a taxi licence?
Among the 13 authorities we checked, Wolverhampton had the lowest driver licence fee at £156 for 3 years from April 2026. But you must work through an operator licensed by the same council, so the cheapest licence is not always the right one.
Is a taxi licence a one-off cost?
No. Driver licences are renewed (usually every 3 years), vehicle licences usually every year, and operator licences at most every 5 years, each with a fee and an HMRC tax check.
Do I pay for the DBS check separately?
Usually yes: some councils collect it with the application (Leeds £70, Walsall £61.72), others ask you to apply through a provider.
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] City of Wolverhampton Council: Taxi and Private Hire Newsletter, Spring 2026 (driver fees from 1 April 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] Oxford City Council: Taxi driver licence fees and charges (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] Walsall Council: Private hire and hackney carriage licensing fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [4] Wirral Council: Private hire and hackney carriage licence fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [5] Rochdale Borough Council: Public hire and private hire driver fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [6] Manchester City Council: All taxi licensing fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [7] Birmingham City Council: Taxi licensing fees and charges (page updated 20 March 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [8] Norwich City Council: Taxi and private hire licence fees (last updated May 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [9] City of York Council: Taxi licensing fees and charges (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [10] Transport for London: Notice 05/26, Taxi and private hire licence fees (13 March 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [11] Leeds City Council: Taxi and private hire licensing costs (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [12] Luton Borough Council: Vehicle application pack (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [13] City of Edinburgh Council: Taxi and PHC licence application fees and charges 2026/27 (valid from 1 April 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [14] GOV.UK: DBS Update Service (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [15] GOV.UK: Criminal record checks when you apply for a role, how long it takes (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [16] legislation.gov.uk: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, section 70 (fees for vehicle and operators' licences) (read 2 Nov 2026)