We’ll remind you when it’s time to renew your licence – but it’s your responsibility to apply to renew it.
You must make sure all checks, documentation and application forms are complete and up to date. There are no exceptions – if your licence expires, you’ll need to restart the new driver application process.
Phone us to arrange an appointment to begin the renewal process.
Find more about the license renewal process in appendix N of our taxi handbook – see the taxi licensing policy and handbook page.
Required documentation
We’ll tell you what to bring to your renewal appointment in your reminder letter. Appendix N of our taxi handbook tells you more, but you will be required to complete and bring:
- Driver licence application form [PDF, 0.1MB]
- Additional driver information form [PDF, 0.1MB], if you complete any sections
- A medical certificate
- Payment for your renewal and, if needed, your DVLA mandate and DBS checks – find out more about taxi licensing fees.
If you need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check and are not subscribed to the DBS update service, you’ll also need to bring:
- Two passport-sized photocards
- Identification:
- Passport
- Driving licence photocard
- National Insurance number
- Birth certificate
- Marriage certificate (if applicable)
- Two proofs of your current address, such as utility bills or bank statements
- Evidence of any other addresses in the last five years
DBS checks
If you need a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check, remember that it can take time to receive your disclosure certificate. Your application must be booked and completed at least eight weeks before your current licence expires. This is to ensure the certificate is returned to you and then submitted to us for assessment before your licence expires.
If you are subscribed to the DBS update service, you must complete your appointment at least two weeks before your licence expires. This is to ensure the online DBS check completed in accordance with the DBS criteria. It allows time to resolve issues such as expired subscriptions, criteria not being met, or additional DBS checks being needed.
DBS update service
You must subscribe to the DBS update service, within the specified timescale of receiving your DBS certificate.
You will need to renew your subscription every year, before your current subscription ends. You cannot renew on the last day of your subscription. If you don’t renew your subscription, you’ll have to register again and apply for a new DBS check.
You can choose to renew automatically when you first register.
Subscribing and renewing is quick and easy – just enter your details and pay the fee. If you’re applying for the first time, you’ll need your DBS application form number – you must do this within 28 days of completing your application. If you have applied before, you can use your DBS certificate number – you must do this within 30 days of it being issued.
When your subscription is confirmed, make a note of your unique ID number and keep it secure. Keep the DBS certificate safe – you will need to provide it to us when we undertake the online check.
Provision of personal data to the Cabinet Office
We are required by law to protect the public funds that we administer. To do this we sometimes need to share the personal data you have given us with the bodies responsible for auditing or administering those funds, in order to prevent and detect fraud.
The Cabinet Office requires us to participate in the National Fraud Initiative (NFI), a data-matching exercise to assist in the prevention and detection of fraud against ourselves and other public-sector organisations. We regularly provide particular sets of data to the Cabinet Office for this purpose, as set out in the code of practice.
Find out more about the fair processing of data.
