Private hire operator licence

By law you need to have a private hire operator licence to dispatch a private hire vehicle to a customer. An operator must make sure all vehicles and drivers have the necessary licences.

What you will need

• disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Basic check certificate
• tax check code
• your business must operate within the Cotswold District Council area
• A credit or debit card to make payment

Consent to transfer vehicle to another person

If you wish to transfer a vehicle to another person a consent form must be filled out before completing the application.

This form will need to be completed by the current owner who is intending on transferring the vehicle. You’ll not be able to continue with the application without this being completed. There is no charge to do this.

Costs

Licence Fees And Charges 2025 To 2026 - pdf - 145 Kb

Apply

Apply here for new or renewal private hire operator licence. If your licence has expired, you’ll need to apply for a new licence at the full cost.

You can renew your licence at a reduced fee if you return the application form at least 7 days before your licence expires.

It is your responsibility to check the expiry date of your licence. We will not send you a reminder or any other documents.

The council will not refund any licences.

Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks

If you need a DBS check, you can apply online. Enter the following details:

• organisation reference: COTSWOLD
• password: council

You’ll need to send us 3 types of ID to process your application. A full list of the valid ID types is available on GOV.UK.

You must also sign up to the DBS Online Update Service and send your certificate number to the licensing team. We will suspend your licence if you do not.

Our licensing Sub-Committee will consider any previous cautions or convictions when processing your application. Refer to our policy on convictions for more information.

Private hire operators must have written policies and procedures in place to ensure criminality (DBS) checks are undertaken on all booking and dispatch staff at annually and to set out its approach on employing staff that are ex-offenders.

Where a booking is outsourced, the operator must ensure the third-party have adequate arrangements in place as outlined above. Please visit https://www.gov.uk/request-copy-criminal-record to apply.

Proof of right to work

You’ll need to prove that you have the right to work in the UK. You’ll need to send us original documents for this check, please view the list of suitable IDs.

• if you have a permanent right to work within the UK, you will need to send ID from List A
• if you have a period of 'leave' you will need to send ID from List B, Group 1 or Group 2, depending on which group applies.

We only need to do this check once if you have a permanent right to work. If you have a period of ‘leave’ we’ll need to check each time your licence is renewed.

We keep copies of the documents on file for audit purposes and for potential information sharing with the Home Office.

Related Pages