All of the fees below apply from 16 August 2009, until then the previous fees set by individual local authorities apply, please contact the relevant area to confirm any fees.

A full list of fees can be found in the fee schedule for licensing.

Hackney Carriage

As of the 1st April 2009, Northumberland County Council took over responsibility for hackney carriage and private hire licensing from the six district councils in Northumberland.  All taxi licences that were issued by a district council and which were valid on 31st March 2009 (i.e. the last day of operation of the district councils) remain in force until on or after 1 April 2009 and automatically became licences of the County Council.  These licences are renewable on their expiry on the same terms as they were last granted by the district council that granted them.  The existing arrangements for hackney carriage licensing in each of the areas of the six district councils continue to apply in those areas, which automatically became ‘hackney carriage zones’ within Northumberland on 1 April 2009. 

Private Hire

As of the 1st April 2009 private hire vehicle, driver and operator licences that were issued by the existing district councils became licences of the County Council; and licence holders are able to use those licences anywhere within the County of Northumberland (with the exception of operator licences that relate to specific premises).

Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver - New Application

A licence is required before any person can drive a hackney carriage (taxi). Licenses are issued subject to proof of eligibility (age, driving licence, criminal records check, medical assessment etc).

All new applications to be a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire driver must be submitted, in person to the appropriate area office by appointment only.  Contact details below:

North Team

Alnwick 01665 511204    Berwick 01289 301804

South East Team

01670 532269, 01670 532317

West Team

01434 652218

To apply for a new licence you will need to provide the following:

Application form fully completed and signed.

·         Valid, original, full DVLA photo card Driving Licence, held for at least 12 months and detailing your full, current postal address. Where the licence is a photocard driving licence the applicant must present both the card and the paper counterpart.

·         CRB Disclosure Application Form completed.

·         2 recent identical colour passport photographs (no sunglasses or hats).

·         Original birth certificate issued in the UK (photocopies not accepted) or original EEA* Passport.  If you do not hold a current EEA passport, you will need to provide evidence that you are entitled to remain in this country indefinitely and able to work.

·         2 recent utility bills stating your name and address (e.g. gas, electricity, mobile phone, bank statement, credit card statement), which must not be more than three months old.

·         A new group 2 medical or a driving licence indicating HGV, PSV entitlement on licence.

·         A Licensing Law test may be required before a licence is processed.

·         The applicant may be required to complete a mandate to allow the Council to check the applicants DVLA record.

 Download an application form

Payment

• Licence fee of £50.00 + CRB Disclosure Fee of £36.00 + Administration fee of £20.00 (Total = £106.00)
• Payment may be made by cash, cheque (only accepted with a Bankers' Card covering the total value of the cheque). Cheques to be made payable to Northumberland County Council.   Please check with area office if they accept credit or debit cards. Alternatively you can contact: ask@northumberland.gov.uk
  

What Happens Next

• Once your form has been completed you will be required to make an appointment with the Licensing team so they can check the forms and witness the signing of the CRB form. Please be aware that once your application has been sent to the Criminal Records Bureau the Licensing Authority has no responsibility for the time it takes for the relevant checks to be completed.    

Licence - Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicles

Hackney Carriage Fees

• A Hackney Carriage licence costs £205.00 per annum
• Green friendly vehicles (LPG and bio-diesel) have a reduced fee of £185.00

Private Hire Vehicle Fees

• A Private Hire Vehicle licence costs £205.00 per annum
• Green friendly vehicles (LPG and bio-diesel) have a reduced fee of £185.00
• Payment may be made by cash, cheque (only accepted with a Bankers' Card covering the total value of the cheque). Cheques to be made payable to Northumberland County Council.   Please check with area office if they accept credit or debit cards.

Alternatively you can email : ask@northumberland.gov.uk

Licence - Private Hire Operators Licence

·        A private hire operator's licence is required to enable a person to accept or invite bookings for private hire vehicles.

One person can be licensed and employ/sub-contract an unlimited number of licensed vehicles.

·        If you are a vehicle proprietor you may work for any existing Operator. However, if you wish to apply for your own licence to operate, you may need to obtain Planning Permission from the Council allowing the use of the building.

·        Once the application form has been completed, you need to make an appointment to visit our Offices, bringing with you the following documentation:

·        Completed application form 

·        Fee - currently £459.00 every five years, or £96.00 per annum

·        Applications will not be accepted without production of the above.

·        Payment may be made by cash, cheque (only accepted with a Bankers' Card covering the total value of the cheque). Cheques to be made payable to Northumberland County Council.   Please check with area office if they accept credit or debit cards.

Alternatively you can contact: ask@northumberland.gov.uk

Until such time that the policies around Hackney Carriage licenses are changed, the  Blyth and Castle Morpeth zones will issue 3-yearly licenses for drivers.