If you wish to drive a Hackney Carriage Vehicle (usually known as a 'taxi') or a Private Hire Vehicle (sometimes known as a 'minicab') you will need to apply for a Driver's Licence for that particular category of vehicle. If you wish to drive both types of vehicle, this can be done under the dual Hackney Carriage Driver Licence, however you will need to hold an Operator’s Licence to do this.  If you hold a licence for a Private Hire Driver you will not be able to work as a Hackney Carriage Driver.  You should think carefully before you apply for your licence, as the licences are not interchangeable.

For further information on what is necessary to be granted a hackney carriage/private hire drivers licence in the Tendring District and the process that is required for all new applicants, please click for an information leaflet on the link below.

Driver Information and Application Form

Taxi and Private Hire Driver Personal Safety Advice

As part of the process to qualify for the grant of a new hackney carriage/private hire drivers licence in the Tendring District,  all new driver licence applicants are required to pass a suitability test and also a driver knowledge test. Information on both is contained in the guidance leaflet for new driver licence applicants which as you will have seen is also shown as a link on this web page. Both tests are completed by applicants using a computer and are carried out in the Council’s offices at Weeley by appointment. Questions for both tests are multiple choice and the driver knowledge test is modular. If you fail any part of the driver knowledge test you can re-sit the parts that you have failed on at a later date. For further and more detailed information on the new driver suitability test and new driver knowledge test please click on the links shown below.  

Guidelines for Knowledge Tests

Guidelines for Suitability Tests