New Applicant Introduction

As part of the application process, it is essential to establish and verify your identity to ensure the accuracy and security of your licence application. To do this, you will be required to submit a set of official documents that collectively confirm your identity, National Insurance details, and current residential address.

You will be required to provide the following:

1. Driving Licence issued by the DVLA
   This should be your current, valid UK driving licence.
2. Valid Passport
   If you do not hold one you can still apply.
3. Proof of National Insurance Number
   You must provide evidence of your National Insurance (NI) number, Acceptable documents include:
• Your official National Insurance card
• An official letter from HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) displaying your NI number
• A recent payslip or wage slip clearly showing your National Insurance number
4. Proof of Current Address
   To confirm your residency, you must submit a recent utility bill (such as gas, electricity, water, or landline phone) showing your full name and current address. The bill should be dated within the last three months. Bank statements or council tax bills may also be accepted as proof of address if they meet the same criteria.

Important Notes:

• Accuracy and completeness: Ensure that all documents clearly show your full name as it appears on your application and match your current details to avoid delays.
• Additional documents: In some cases, further identification may be requested if there are discrepancies or if the documentation provided is insufficient.

By providing these documents, you help ensure the integrity of the licensing process and assist the Licensing Authority in verifying that all applicants are who they claim to be.

As part of the application process for a Hackney or Private Hire driver’s licence, all applicants are required to provide evidence of being a fit and proper person. This is done through an enhanced criminal conviction check conducted by the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).

You can apply for the enhanced DBS check using the following link (please note that application fees apply and are listed on the website):

Apply for your DBS check via TaxiPlus – Mid Sussex District Council

Existing DBS Certificate Holders

If you already hold a DBS certificate for a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver Licence issued through another licensing authority, and it is registered with the DBS Update Service, you may be able to use it for your Mid Sussex application.

Please contact a Licensing Officer to confirm whether your certificate meets the required criteria.

DBS Certificate Submission & Update Service

Once you have received your DBS certificate, please submit it to the Licensing Team.

All licensed drivers are required to register with the DBS Update Service and provide ongoing evidence of continuous registration. This allows the Licensing Authority to carry out six-monthly checks for any new information.

You must subscribe to the Update Service within 19 days of the issue date on your DBS certificate. After this time, it will no longer be possible to subscribe, and you will need to apply for a new DBS check.

You can subscribe to the DBS Update Service here:

Subscribe to the DBS Update Service

As part of your application, you are required to provide the name and address of two-character references. The Licensing Team will contact them directly to request a written reference on your behalf.

Reference 1 – Professional Character Reference

• Must not be a relative.
• Must be a person of professional or similar standing (e.g. MP, doctor, minister of religion, local councillor, bank officer, civil servant, police officer, teacher, lawyer, a manager you have worked for, or someone who owns their own business).
• Must have personally known you for at least two years.
• Must be a Commonwealth or Irish citizen and resident in the UK.

Reference 2 – Personal Character Reference

• Must not be a relative.
• Must have personally known you for at least two years.
• Must reside in the UK and be listed on the electoral register.
• Must not be a driver, proprietor, or operator licensed with Mid Sussex District Council.
• Must have agreed to provide a character reference in support of your application.

Please ensure both referees are aware that they will be contacted by the Licensing Team and are willing to provide a reference.

All new driver applicants are required to undergo a Group II Medical Assessment to ensure they are physically fit to carry out the duties of a licensed driver.

This assessment must be completed by one of the following:

• A GP at the surgery where you are registered,
  or
• D4 Drivers, the medical assessment provider approved by Mid Sussex District Council.
  You can book an appointment with D4 Drivers here:
   Book with D4 Drivers

Important Notes for D4 Drivers Appointments

If you choose to use D4 Drivers, you must obtain your full medical records from your GP prior to the appointment. These records must be taken with you to the assessment so the practitioner can carry out a complete review.

The completed medical assessment form and your full medical records must be submitted together to the Licensing Team.

Fees and Charges

Please note that fees apply for the medical assessment. These fees are set by the provider you choose, and any price enquiries should be made directly to them.

Medical Assessment Form

You can download the medical assessment form here, which is required to take to the assessment, the GP and D4 Drivers will NOT have a copy:

https://www.midsussex.gov.uk/media/otunm5uz/medical-assessment-form.pdf

As part of the application process, the Licensing Authority is required to determine whether applicants for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licences are fit and proper persons. A key element of this assessment is ensuring that applicants have:

• A good knowledge of the local area,
• An understanding of licensing conditions and relevant legislation,
• Basic numeracy skills, and
• A grasp of customer service expectations.

To assess this, all applicants must pass a Knowledge Test set by Mid Sussex District Council. The pass mark is 75% and both sections of the test must be passed to be successful.

Test Details

• Test Format: Two sections
• Test Duration: 45 minutes
• Pass Mark: 75% in each section
• Test Fee is applicable which can be found on our Taxi Fees table
• Test Frequency: Held every second Monday of the month

Section 1: Local Area Knowledge

This section consists of 20 short-answer questions about locations throughout the district.

You will be required to:

• Identify the location of specific places, by providing the road name or number, and the town or village it is situated in.
  Example: "London Road, East Grinstead" or "A22, East Grinstead".
• Demonstrate knowledge of all A roads within the district, including:
• The direction they run
• The towns and villages they pass through

Tip: You are strongly encouraged to study the local road network and key landmarks before attempting the test.

This section includes 12 multiple choice questions covering:

• Taxi and Private Hire licensing conditions and legislation
• Basic numeracy
• Customer service principles

Example Question:

Which of these, if any, can park on a taxi rank?
A. Any licensed taxi
B. Any licensed taxi or private hire vehicle
C. Only a taxi licensed by the local licensing authority
D. No vehicles

To book your knowledge test:

• Contact the Customer Service team by calling 01444 477335
• The booking must be made at least 24 hours in advance
• Spaces are limited

Please prepare thoroughly, as failing either section will require you to rebook and repay the test fee for a new attempt.

Revision

To make study for the questions in the first section of the exam easier the area has been divided into three areas

North

Central

South

Mid Sussex District Council Area

As part of your application, you must provide evidence of your driver licence history by obtaining a DVLA Check Code.

You can obtain your check code by visiting the official DVLA service here:

https://www.gov.uk/view-driving-licence

To generate your check code, you will need:

• Your driving licence number
• Your National Insurance number
• Your postcode

Important:
The check code is case sensitive and must be provided exactly as displayed. Please ensure it is entered accurately when submitting your application.

All new drivers must successfully complete a Driving Assessment to demonstrate that their driving skills meet the nationally recognised standard previously set by the Driving Standards Agency (DSA).

This assessment is a mandatory part of the application process for both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licences.

Assessment Requirements

• You must pass the driving assessment before a licence can be issued.
• The assessment is designed to confirm your driving ability is of a safe, professional, and competent standard.
• It is strongly recommended that you:
• Familiarise yourself with the format and content of the test, and
• Consider taking professional driving instruction prior to booking the assessment.
• If you intend to drive a wheelchair accessible vehicle, you must also complete an additional wheelchair assessment.

Assessment Standards and Providers

• The assessment must meet the standard previously set by the DSA.
• Only tests conducted by DSA-authorised examiners or organisations following the same criteria will be accepted.
• A list of currently approved assessment providers can be obtained from the Council.

To ensure consistency and maintain high standards, the Council reserves the right to make any necessary enquiries to verify:

• The competence of the examiner, and
• That the assessment was carried out in line with the required standard.

As part of this process, applicants will be required to provide:

• The name of the assessment provider, and
• Details of the examiner who conducted the test.

Approved Taxi Driving Assessment Providers

The following providers are currently verified and accepted by MSDC to conduct taxi driving assessments to the required DSA standard:

1. The Blue Lamp Trust
   Website: www.bluelamptrust.org.uk
2. Sussex Taxi Training – Kevin Dunham
   Phone: 07787 515964
3. Mann Fleet Solutions
   Website: www.mannfleettaxitesting.co.uk
   Phone: 07921 777667
4. DriveTech
   Phone: 01256 495731 (Option 1)
   Website: www.drivetech.co.uk

English Language Proficiency Test

To ensure all licensed drivers can communicate effectively with passengers and authorities, all new applicants are required to demonstrate a sufficient level of English language proficiency.

1. Test Requirement

• All new applicants for a Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Driver Licence must undertake an English Language Proficiency Test, regardless of nationality or country of birth.
• The test is designed to assess your ability to communicate clearly, understand instructions, and respond appropriately in English.

• The test is the Versant English Test, conducted through TalentLens.
• It lasts approximately 15 minutes and is taken at the Council Offices.
• The cost of the test is can be found on the Taxi Fees table on MSDC website, payable in advance.
• To pass, applicants must achieve a minimum score of 55 out of 80.
• To book speak to a Licensing Officer.

3. Test Content Overview

The Versant test evaluates:

• Speaking
• Listening
• Comprehension
• Pronunciation
• Sentence construction
• Vocabulary 

4. Exemptions

You may be exempt from taking the English Language Proficiency Test if you can provide evidence of holding one of the following qualifications:

• A GCSE, GCE O-Level, or GCE A-Level in English (Grade C or higher) from a UK recognised examining body
• A Level 2 or higher NVQ, City & Guilds, or similar vocational qualification issued by a UK recognised body where English language skills were tested
• An equivalent English qualification issued in an English-speaking country (outside the UK) by a recognised examining body
• A TOEFL, IELTS, or ESOL qualification at CEFR level B2 or higher (or equivalent)

All qualifications must be appropriately certified and verifiable.

As part of the licence application process, the Finance Act 2021 introduced a requirement for certain applicants to complete a tax check to confirm they are registered for tax appropriately.

All licence applicants are required to complete a 'tax check' with HMRC, and the Licensing Authority must confirm that the check has been successfully completed before proceeding with the application.

1. Visit the HMRC tax check service:
   https://www.gov.uk/guidance/complete-a-tax-check-for-a-taxi-private-hire-or-scrap-metal-licence
2. Log in using your Government Gateway account.

If you don’t have one, you will need to create an account before proceeding.

3. Complete the tax check by answering a few questions about your tax registration and trading status.
4. At the end of the process, you will receive a 9-character Tax Check Code.

• You must provide your Tax Check Code to the Licensing Authority as part of your application.
• The Licensing Authority cannot proceed with your application until this code is submitted and verified with HMRC.

The code is valid for 120 days, so ensure it is still active when you submit your application.

In line with the Statutory Standards for Hackney and Private Hire Drivers, adopted by Mid Sussex District Council, Safeguarding Awareness Training is now mandatory for all licensed drivers.

All new applicants are expected to have successfully completed this training before applying for their first licence.

Training Provider and Format

• The training is provided by West Sussex County Council.
• It is delivered online via a live webinar and includes an assessment module.
• The course is not an exam but ensures all drivers have fully understood and reflected on important safeguarding knowledge.

How to Book

1. Visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/essential-safeguarding-training-for-taxi-drivers-4127823?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=creatorshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=odclsxcollection&utm-source=cp&aff=escb
2. Select a suitable date and time for your training session.
3. Click “Check Out” to proceed to the booking page.
4. There are fees applicable for the training session which are detailed on the link.
5. Complete the form with your name and email address.
6. You will receive a confirmation email from Eventbrite with:
• Your ticket, and
• A Microsoft Teams link to access the webinar.

Course Duration and Certification

• Each session lasts approximately 2 hours.
• After completing both the webinar and the assessment module, you will receive a confirmation certificate from West Sussex County Council.

What You Need to Do

Once you have received your certificate:
Send a copy to the Licensing Team as proof of attendance and successful completion of the Safeguarding training.

In line with the Statutory Standards for Hackney and Private Hire Drivers and the updated Hackney and Private Hire Policy adopted by Mid Sussex District Council, Disability Awareness Training is now mandatory for all licensed drivers.

All new applicants are expected to have successfully completed this training prior to applying for their first licence.

Training Provider and Booking Information

• The training is delivered online by the Blue Lamp Trust.
• Each session lasts approximately 3 hours.
• There are fees applicable for the training session which are detailed on the link.
• To book, visit https://www.bluelamptrust.orq.uk/disability-classroom­course/

Additional course dates are added regularly.

You may be exempt from this training requirement if you can provide evidence of completing a comparable course, such as:

• Level 2 NVQ Certificate in Road Passenger Vehicle Driving (Taxi and Private Hire)
• Disability awareness training provided as part of school contract work
• Training completed with another licensing authority

To qualify for exemption, you must submit a valid course completion certificate as evidence. The Licensing Team will review this documentation to confirm whether the exemption applies.

If you do not meet the exemption criteria, completion of the Blue Lamp Trust course is mandatory before your application can be processed.

Mid Sussex District Council has a legal duty to ensure that licences are not issued to individuals who are disqualified from holding them due to their immigration status. This requirement is part of the Government’s measures to prevent illegal working in the taxi and private hire sector, as introduced under the Immigration Act 2016.

For those who have time-limited permission to live and work in the UK, a Right to Work check must be repeated each time a licence is renewed or extended until the applicant provides evidence of indefinite leave to remain or settled status.

You will be required to provide one of the prescribed original documents (or combination of documents) that prove your right to live and work in the UK. A full list of acceptable documents is available here:

GOV.UK - Employer’s Right to Work Checklist: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/right-to-work-checklist/employers-right-to-work-checklist-accessible-version

Please Note:

• You must provide the original document(s) for verification – copies cannot be accepted.
• The Licensing Team will copy the documents and retain them for our records.
• Your original documents will be returned to you immediately after the check.

If you hold a:

• Biometric Residence Card (BRC)
• Biometric Residence Permit (BRP)
• Frontier Worker Permit (FWP)

You must use the Home Office online service to evidence your right to work. We cannot accept physical copies of these documents.

Use the following link to generate your share code:
https://www.gov.uk/prove-right-to-work

Once completed, please provide your share code to the Licensing Team so that your status can be verified online.

To ensure fairness and avoid discrimination:

• All applicants will be required to complete a right to work check regardless of nationality, ethnicity, or length of UK residency.
• No assumptions will be made about an individual’s right to work based on appearance, accent, or background.

This process ensures that our application and licensing procedures remain transparent, consistent, and compliant with the law.

All applicants who have been resident outside the United Kingdom for a period of more than 3 months at any time since the age of 18 must provide a Certificate of Good Behaviour (also known as a Certificate of Conduct or Police Clearance Certificate).

• A Certificate of Good Behaviour from the Police or relevant authority in each country, district, or province where you have lived for more than 3 months.
• The certificate must cover the period of your residency in that location, up to the time you moved to the United Kingdom.

• The certificate(s) must be officially translated into English.
• Each translated certificate must be certified by the Embassy or official representative of the country from which it was issued.

• You are responsible for obtaining the certificate(s) and covering any associated costs.
• Your application will not be considered complete until all required documentation is submitted and verified.

Any applicant who is resident in the United Kingdom under the terms of a Student Visa may be granted a licence; however, they are not permitted to be self-employed and are restricted to working a maximum of 20 hours per week during term time.

Before a licence can be issued, you will be required to provide evidence that you are properly employed within these restrictions.