Taxi operators

From 1 January 2024, taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) operators must record the income of each and every driver working on their platforms.

The new requirement marks the first phase in a HMRC strategy to receive these records in January 2025, as part of an extensive drive to "bolster transparency and ensure tax compliance in digital platform transactions".

The UK government's introduction of the 'Reporting Rules for Digital Platforms' legislation is a decisive step towards establishing equitable standards across the digital marketplace. These rules mandate that all taxi and private hire digital platforms gather and submit earnings data from their drivers to HMRC. With the aim of promoting tax transparency and streamlining the reporting process, platforms will soon start to request additional personal details from their drivers, such as National Insurance numbers. From January 2025, this data will be annually reported directly to HMRC, marking a significant shift in how driver earnings are monitored and taxed.

The legislation, impacting an estimated 2-5 million businesses in the UK, extends beyond taxis and PHVs to encompass a broad spectrum of services available through digital platforms. This includes sectors like food delivery, freelance work, and short-term accommodation rentals.

We recommend you check to see if you need planning permission by emailing the Council's Planning team at planning.applications@derby.gov.uk.

Fees are currently charged per vehicle and each licence lasts for five years. Our licensing payments page explains what fees apply and how to pay them.

In order to ensure all individual applicants are ‘fit and proper’ to hold a licence we require:

• a completed Private Hire Operator Application Form
• that on application for a new Operator’s Licence or renewal of an existing licence, an applicant will submit a Basic Disclosure Certificate issued by the Disclosure and Barring Service. Where the operator is a corporate entity, each director or partner in that company will be expected to comply with this condition. Where the operator is a licensed driver with the Council, having already submitted an Enhanced DBS and undergoing 6 monthly checks, will not be required to submit a Basic Disclosure. In this situation, if the operator ceases to be a licensed driver with the Council, this condition must be reinstated with immediate effect. View the DBS guidance notes
• a check on the applicant’s immigration status, including their Right to Work for individual applicants, and individuals that form a partnership for new and renewal applications. For company applications for an operator’s licence, an immigration check is not required. Download a list of Home Office Acceptable Documents

Disclosure and Barring Service criminal record check forms have a unique number and cannot be downloaded from our website.

Please post or email your application form, together with your DBS certificate and your Right to Work document.

You will need to provide all the listed requirements, if necessary before a licence will be considered.

Our licensing payments page explains what fees apply and how to pay them.

As an existing licence holder you will receive a renewal reminder approximately three months before your licence expires. You will need to provide a list of vehicles and drivers that are associated with your operation at the time of submitting your renewal application.

Your licence will not be issued on the day of submitting your renewal. Please allow up to 10 working days for your renewal application to be processed. It is your responsibility to apply in plenty of time to renew your licence.

Before an operator licence is granted or renewed you or a representative of your company, such as a director will need to have completed the mandatory safeguarding course. Please contact the licensing team for further details.

There is no public register available for Private Hire Operators

The next scheduled meetings are listed below.  Please note the cut-off date for the receipt of agenda items and statements or supporting information. The meetings will be held at the Council House starting at 10am. Details of the Terms of Reference for the Taxi Licensing Trade Meetings‌‌ be downloaded.  

Previous agendas

• Taxi Trade Meeting Agenda January 2019
• Taxi Trade Meeting Agenda October 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Agenda August 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Agenda June 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Agenda March 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Agenda December 2017

Previous minutes

• Taxi Trade Meeting Minutes December 2020‌
• Taxi Trade Meeting Minutes January 2019
• Taxi Trade Meeting Minutes October 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Minutes August 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Minutes June 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Minutes March 2018
• Taxi Trade Meeting Minutes December 2017