Taxi Licence FAQs

Try using a PC/Laptop rather than a mobile device and use Google Chrome rather than your usual internet browser.

The Council has no approved agents or third parties and any service provided to support applicants is not regulated or controlled by the Council. 

The Council cannot provide information unless you have an application reference number beginning with WTP.  If you have paid a third party to submit your application and have not received notice (by e-mail from I-apply) you will need to take this up with the third party.

If you have received a confirmation/acknowledgment e-mail from I-apply the application will be dealt with in the normal way.

Please check your junk/spam folders,  if you have still not received it then it is likely that you have incorrectly entered your email address.

For Driver badge enquiries - Contact us with your WTP reference number

For Vehicle Licence enquiries -  Contact us with your WTP reference number and Vehicle Registration Number confirming your correct email address for correspondence.

Contact Licensing Services

Driver Licence

This could be due to the expiry of your medical or right to work status. Applicants with a short term DVLA driving licence will receive a licence to drive a private hire vehicle valid until the expiry date of their driving licence.

From 01 April 2021, if you have not provided consent for Licensing Services to check your information against the DBS Update Service, you may only be issued a six-month licence.

Vehicle Licence

This could be due to the age of your vehicle. If a vehicle is over 10 years old and you have applied for a 12 month licence, your licence is granted for 6 months initially, you are then required to attend a 6 month compliance check appointment with a new MOT (dated within 10 working days of your appointment) to collect the remaining period of your vehicle licence for no additional cost.

Please see our Right to Work in the UK page

In order to renew your current Private Hire/Hackney Carriage Driver Licence you will require a Personal Reference Number that will be issued to you at least 4 weeks prior to expiry via email in the form of a Renewal Letter.

The letter will detail the documents that are required in order to renew along with the Personal Reference Number.  It is important to ensure Licensing Services have your current email address on file.

If you haven’t received your Renewal Letter with less than 4 weeks to expiry please email driver.lic@wolverhampton.gov.uk with your current badge number and current email address.

Applicants that require a medical/DBS will be advised of this in their renewal letter/e-mail.

We aim to notify renewals at least one calendar month before the expiry.

However, please note we are not obliged to do this. It is the licence holder’s responsibility to ensure a renewal application is submitted at least ten working days before the expiry of their licence.

If your current Medical/DBS do not cover the period of the licence for which you are applying you may be issued with a “Short Term Licence”.  You will be required to submit a new Medical/DBS prior to expiry of this “Short Term Licence” in order to receive the full licence period for which you have applied.

If a medical practitioner has refused to complete the medical certificate, it is advised to visit another GMC-registered medical practitioner

You can use your private hire driver licence to conduct journeys anywhere in the country, however, you must receive the booking from an operator licensed by City of Wolverhampton Council and complete it in a vehicle licensed for private hire by City of Wolverhampton Council.

If you hold a current Driver or Vehicle Licence with City of Wolverhampton Council, you will need to register with the “My Licence Portal” to inform of arrests, cautions, charges, convictions and Fixed Penalties as part of your conditions of licence.

You need to register with your email address that is held on file. If you have amended your email address you must notify Licensing Services by emailing driver.lic@wolverhampton.gov.uk Once you have registered your email address, you will need to check your email account, including junk folders, for the verification email. Once you have clicked this link, your account will be activated.

Register for My Licence Portal

If you already have a My Licence Portal Account, please log in below

Log in to My Licence Portal

The vehicle must be no older than 11 years 6 months. Vehicles are not plated past 12 years.

The vehicle must have no more than 8 seats and passenger opening doors on both sides and all seats must be forward facing.

There is no minimum or maximum engine size.

Yes. We require the LPG certificate on the submission of the application and the log book must state the vehicle is LPG

Yes we can accept these.

Only manufactured/factory fitted privacy glass is permitted. Aftermarket tints are not permitted and must be removed before licensing. Any other modifications will be considered on a case by case basis.

To make an enquiry, contact us using our web form and select 'Vehicle enquiry'

Email Licensing Service

Yes, provided the conditions outlined in the Taxi CCTV Policy (available in the Downloads section) are met.

Only Wolverhampton operators can have executive/exempt vehicles. Only certain vehicles on our fleet can apply for the executive license, please email us to check if the vehicle make and model qualify. The fee for this is £75 – additional to the application fee.

All owner/drivers must display operator permanent sticker signage at all times – they cannot apply.

Email Licensing Service

City of Wolverhampton Council do not permit multi-licensing of vehicles.

In relation to the private hire vehicles multi-licensed with other authorities, these will be in breach of our Licensing conditions. Please refer to our private hire vehicle conditions section. 

This means you are required to either surrender the Private hire licenses: 

• with the other authorities
• with ourselves

Only if they hold a private hire drivers licence with City of Wolverhampton Council and have the appropriate insurance. If you are unsure, please email us using our web form

Email Licensing Service

If the vehicle is brand new with only delivery mileage maximum 500 miles, then no we do not require an MOT. On the application it does ask if the vehicle is brand new with delivery mileage. If the vehicle has more than 500 miles than yes, we do require a new MOT within 10 working days.

Yes. An MOT certificate, no more than 10 working days old, from an approved garage, must be provided when submitting a vehicle application.

View our Approved MOT testing stations

No.  A log book or new keepers slip is required to apply for a Hackney Carriage/ Private Hire Vehicle Licence.  A replacement log book can be obtained from the DVLA by completing a V62 form. If the vehicle is brand new we can accept a vehicle invoice.

We do now accept the V5 on demand scheme for fleet services.

No, the applicant for a vehicle licence must be the legal owner of the vehicle.

We no longer take appointments for replacement vehicles, all operators/hire companies and individuals must make a new online application. You will need to ensure you submit a renewal application.

They must ensure they provide their Private Hire number on the application, so we can identify it is a replacement application. The applicant/proprietor must be the same individual on the old and new vehicle applications.  

If there is 6 calendar months or more remaining on the current vehicle we will treat this new application as a free fast-track and this will be undertaken within 2 working days but the application must be undertaken online.

We require an MOT certificate within 10 working days of the application, log book or new keeper slip and a valid insurance certificate for the new vehicle.

We will no longer calculate the charge on the day, if the vehicle is under 10 years old there will be a full 1-year charge and if over 10 years old and under 12 the 6-month licence fee will be charged – this payment is taken online. Please see the current Fees in the Downloads section of our Taxi licences page

Complete our Vehicle Replacement web form

If you have sold your private hire/hackney carriage vehicle you are under a duty to surrender your licence, by using the 'Surrender Form' in the downloads section. Or if you have sold your vehicle licence to another Wolverhampton Licensed Driver you will instead need to complete the 'Transfer Form', in the downloads section. Please note it is a legal requirement under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, Section 49 that vehicle proprietors have 14 days from the date of sale, to complete and submit a transfer form.

The completed transfer form must be signed by the previous and new vehicle proprietor and emailed to - Vehicle.lic@wolverhampton.gov.uk along with the correct Insurance Certificate and New Keeper Slip section 2 and 6/ V5 Log Book in the new owner’s name. Once we have received the transfer from and documentation you will be contacted by Customer Services regarding the £25 fee payable by debit or credit card.

The new keeper will then be issued the Licence via email, you are not the licence holder until you receive the new licence. If you have not received the new licence within 14 days please contact vehicle.lic@wolverhapton.gov.uk. There is no appointment required to attend our offices.

Complete our change of address web form

Please report using our webform

Report lost/stolen plates

In order to have your Private Hire Vehicle Licence registration amended to your private DVLA registration you are required to provide us with the following documents via email. The V778 Retention Document, V750 Certificate of Entitlement with the online reference number or V5 document and Insurance Certificate showing the new registration has been transferred.

Please contact us using our web form.

Once received you will be contacted via telephone to make the £37 payment and then emailed with an appointment to attend to collect the new licence plate.

Apply for private reg

Please use our Taxi Accident web form to report an accident to your vehicle.

Report an accident

The vehicle licence will need to be returned to the City of Wolverhampton Council.   

You surrender the license by post. The address is the City of Wolverhampton Council, Chapel Street, Bilston, Wolverhampton WV14 0PH.

Please send the internal, external licence plate and the pre-book stickers along with a completed Surrender form that can be found in the Downloads section.

You must bring in your DVLA Driving Licence and Drivers Badge as proof of ID, complete a form, then pay a fee:

Miscellaneous Parts:

Private Hire Vehicle

Please email us using our web form for an appointment to collect:

Email Licensing Services