SUSSEX
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
TRAINING CENTRE LTD
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HACKNEY CARRIAGE AND PRIVATE HIRE TESTS TRAINING CENTRE
To drive a hackney carriage (taxi) licensed to ply for hire you will need a hackney carriage driver licence issued by the appropriate council. To drive a private hire vehicle licensed you will need a private hire driver licence issued by issued by the appropriate council. The procedure for getting either licence is the same.
About You - To be granted a licence:
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You must be at least 21 years of age and have held a full UK or EU driver licence for at least 12 months when you apply for either a hackney carriage or private hire driver licence;
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You must be a fit and proper person to hold a licence;
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You will need to give the name and address of two people who will give you a reference - they must not be relatives;
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You will need to disclose ALL previous convictions whether or not they are spent and an enhanced criminal record check will be made through the Criminal Records Bureau (CRB). Please note that Brighton & Hove Council follows the CRB code of practice a copy of which is available upon request. If you have previous convictions they may prevent you from being granted a licence and so you are strongly advised to ask the council's hackney carriage officer for advice now and before you go any further. Better to ask now than to spend time and money on learning the information you will need for your knowledge test only to find out that a licence will not be granted to you;
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You will need to be fit enough to comply with the medical requirements of the council. That requires you to meet the DVLA Group 2 driver licence medical standards. They are stricter than the standards needed to get an ordinary DVLA driver licence. If you have now, or have had in the past, any medical condition you are strongly advised to ask the council's hackney carriage officer for advice now and before you go any further. If you don't you risk doing a lot of work only later to find out that you may not be granted a licence.