Can a taxi or private hire driver hold multiple licences across different authorities?
Yes, a taxi driver can be licensed by multiple councils. There are no legal restrictions on holding more than one licence, provided the driver meets the requirements of each local authority and drives a vehicle licensed in that area too.
Most councils have similar licensing criteria, including Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks, medical assessments, and HMRC tax verification. However, local knowledge tests and, in London, the Safety, Equality and Regulatory Understanding (SERU) assessment must still be passed for each authority where the driver applies.
Drivers may seek multiple licences to increase their work opportunities. Licensing rules can vary, and some authorities may have more favourable conditions regarding costs, waiting times, or operational flexibility. Holding multiple licences allows drivers to operate in different areas, providing access to a wider customer base.
This might be useful for those who work in areas where demand fluctuates. A driver licensed in more than one authority may choose where to work based on demand, events, or peak travel periods, ensuring a more consistent income.
For private hire drivers, multiple licences can also help them legally accept bookings in different council areas. Since private hire journeys must be pre-booked through an operator licensed in the same area as the driver, holding multiple licences potentially gives access to more operators and customers, although cross-border hiring rules allow drivers on many of the larger ride-hailing platforms to work outside of their licensing area.
While holding multiple licences can be beneficial to some, it also comes with added costs and administrative requirements. Each authority charges its own fees, and drivers must keep up with separate renewal dates, compliance checks, and local regulations.
For most drivers one licence is enough, but the flexibility is there as an option should the driver need it.
