Driver licence renewals

Step 1 - Check the following are still valid and obtain certificates (if expired)

Safeguarding and Disability Awareness Training

This course must be completed every three (3) years. Please check if you need to renew your course for your licence renewal application. Provided by Oxfordshire County Council, to book you will find the information under (£55 fee paid directly to the County Council)

Complete Medical Certification Report

This Certificate expires every six (6) years / or every year for drivers aged over 65 years old, or if you have some medical conditions. Please check if you need to renew your medical for your licence renewal application. The Medical Certification Report must be completed by your GP / Doctor. The form is in the Driver Application Forms. ALL questions on the form must be answered and there is usually a fee.

Disclosure and Barring Services (DBS) Online Update Service

Your DBS Certificate must be signed up to the Online Update Service, so we can carry out online check for your renewal application. You must also demonstrate that you hold the original certificate. If you do not have the original DBS Certificate, and/or you are not signed up for the DBS Update Service, you must obtain a new DBS certificate, regardless of the DBS expiry on your badge.

To provide a new DBS Certificate you must complete a new DBS form by:

Calling the Applications Team on 01865 252115 to pay £38 for a DBS application and request the form to be posted to your home address
We will post you the DBS application form and will book you in for a face-to face DBS appointment
You can do this separately from submitting a full renewal application

Step 2 - Prepare the necessary forms and documents

Complete all the forms (some require you to generate online codes) and have all the documents listed below. All the forms and how to generate the share codes are in the full Drivers Application Forms.

We strongly advise you to apply at least two (2) months before the licence expiry to avoid any delays in processing.

The completed Application Form

Please note:

Your name on your Application form must be the same as that on your passport.
The name on your driving licence must match your name on your passport. If your names don’t match you must update these documents.
The address on your driving licence must match the address on your current proof of address document.

The completed Annual Background Checks Form
The DVLA Check Code Form. You must generate an online share code but DO NOT run the check. The check must be done by a Council officer. If you run the check by mistake you will need to generate another online share code.
The HMRC Tax Check Code Form. You must generate an online share code
The Right to Work (RTW) Online Share Code Form. You must generate an online share code. You do not need the form if you hold a UK Passport, Irish Passport or UK birth certificate
Copy of DVLA Driving Licence
Proof of Right to Work in the UK (unrestricted) – usually passport or share code (if applicable)
One passport sized/style photograph
Copy of your full DBS Certificate, which is signed up for the Online DBS Update Service - If you require a new DBS application please contact the Applications Team on 01865 252115 to post one to your home address or they are available to collect from Rose Hill Community Centre, Oxford or Oxford Library, Westgate Shopping Centre, Oxford
Safeguarding and Disability Awareness Training (if due this year)
Medical Examination Report (if due this year)

Step 3 - Submit the application to the Council

Send all the documents listed above in Step 1 and 2 via email to taxiapplications@oxford.gov.uk.

You must attach to the email ALL the Certificates, Forms and Documents listed above to the application email. You can spread the documents over few emails, as long as they are all sent one after the other.

You will receive an automated response that we have received your application. Once you have submitted your application via email we will assess it. If your application is not complete, we will email you back with the advice on what needs to be corrected or what you have missed. If your application is valid, we will move to the next step.

Step 4 - Payment for your application

We will call you to collect a payment for your application over the phone via secure line using your Debit/Credit card.

After taking the payment, we will email you the receipt.

Step 5 - Right to Work in the UK evidence

We will send you a website link via email from Trust ID (cloud@trustid.co.uk) to follow and upload your Right to Work evidence online. From the date of the email, you will have a period of 7 days to upload your documents as part of your application process. You will either upload a copy of your valid (in date) UK/Irish passport or input your share code, whichever applies to you.

An online video appointment is carried out via Zoom portal. You do not need to download any software to attend this meeting. You can join using a computer, laptop or a smartphone.

Step 6 - DBS Application (if applicable)

Please note that the same TrustID website link can be used to upload required documents for the DBS application and Right to Work evidence, along with the same Zoom video call.

You will be required to email a copy of all the pages of your DBS application form, identity documents and proof of address to taxiapplications@oxford.gov.uk when an Applications Team Officer will validate your application.

Once the DBS application form is valid, you will be required to hand deliver the form to the Oxford Town Hall post box in an envelope clearly marked DBS Form – Taxi Licensing.

If your DBS application form is incomplete, you will receive an email with further instructions on how to correct the form before returning it via email to be validated.

Once we have received your completed DBS application form, we will send you a website link via email from Trust ID (cloud@trustid.co.uk) to follow and upload all the required documents online. From the date of the email, you will have a period of 7 days to upload your documents as part of your application process.

An online video appointment is carried out via Zoom portal. You do not need to download any software to attend this meeting. You can join using a computer, laptop or a smartphone.

Step 7 - DBS Certificate & Online Update Service

The DBS Certificate will arrive at your home address only. The Council do not get a copy. Once you have received the DBS Certificate, you need to complete the following:

Register for the online DBS Update Service here using your certificate number: DBS Update Service. You must do this within 30 days of the issue date of the certificate (printed on your certificate)
Email us pictures of your full DBS Certificate (front and back even if it is blank), and your completed Annual Background Checks Form to taxiapplications@oxford.gov.uk

Step 8 - Wait for the decision and licence

Once you have submitted the final documents, the final checks will take few days. Please be patient and wait until we contact you. Once the licence is issued, we will email your Paper Licence (counterpart) document first. Your badge will be send by post and will arrive at your home address few days later.

Please be aware that this is only a ‘Quick Guide’ to assist on how to apply for a New Hackney Carriage and / or Private Hire Driver Licence and you must refer to the full Driver Application Terms and Conditions to find full details and guidance on all the Licensing criteria and conditions that must be met under ‘Fit and Proper’ person with this Authority.