Taxi Licensing

Oxford City Council has a statutory duty to licence vehicles and drivers who wish to become members of the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire trade within Oxford.

These powers are granted under two Acts:

• Town Police Clauses Act 1847
• Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976

Types of licence issued by Oxford City Council:

• Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers
• Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles
• Private Hire Operators

In order to obtain a licence all applicants must meet with our approved criteria which is detailed in the Driver, Vehicle and Operator Application Packs below.

You can download our basic guide to Taxi Licensing below:

Guide to Taxi Licensing (132kB PDF)

Full details as to how to apply for a licence, and all of the current criteria, regulations, conditions, procedures and charges are detailed in the following comprehensive application packs:

Driver Application Pack (1.1MB PDF)
Vehicle Application Pack (458kB PDF)
Operator Application Pack (543kB PDF)

Once licensed, all drivers, proprietors and operators are expected to ensure that they uphold the conditions of their respective licences. Any failure to do so is dealt with by the Licensing Officers.

The objective of the licensing regime is to ensure that, so far as possible, those licensed to drive Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles are suitable persons to do so, namely that they are safe drivers with good driving records and adequate experience, sober, mentally and physically fit, and honest; and that they are persons who would not take advantage of their position to abuse, assault or defraud customers. The general term used is a 'fit and proper' person.

This Authority expects all licensed vehicles to be maintained to the highest standard, and all vehicles to be kept to an 'exceptional' standard.

We also expect the Operators to provide first class customer service and advice to their customers, in order to promote the high quality we ourselves aim to bring to those who live in, work in, or visit Oxford.

More Information

• General Information
• Information for Drivers, Proprietors and Operators
• Taxi Fares
• Limiting the Number of Hackney Carridge Vehicles
• Taxi Trade Newsletter
• Statement of Taxi Licensing Policy
• Taxi Licensing Enforcement Operations
• Taxis - How to Make a Complaint

Page last reviewed 14 May 2012