If you're an existing taxi driver and your licence is due to expire, you can renew it online.
You need to submit a valid renewal application before midnight on the date your current licence runs out. If you don't, your existing licence will expire and you'll need to apply for a new taxi driver's licence instead.
You must be covered by a valid enhanced DBS check, be signed up to the DBS Update Service, and have medical clearance on the date your current licence expires. If you don't have these we won't process your renewal application.
Enhanced DBS check
To renew your licence your existing enhanced DBS check certificate must be valid on the date your current licence expires and you must be signed up to the DBS Update Service so we can access your DBS information. If not, you must have a new enhanced DBS check completed, sign up to the DBS Update Service, and upload a copy of your new certificate as part of your renewal application.
Please note: you don't need to sign up to the DBS Update Service until your licence is due for renewal or your current DBS check certificate expires, whichever comes first. If you don't sign up for the DBS Update Service your application may be refused, you'll fail our six-monthly DBS checks, and your licence may be suspended or revoked.
Checks must be completed by Barnsley Council's DBS checking service, and there's a fee for the check to be done.
Email dbs@barnsley.gov.uk to request an appointment to complete your check. At your appointment you'll need to provide proof of your National Insurance number and address, and have your driving licence and a valid passport (if you have one).
When your check's complete you'll receive a certificate through the post. Please note, it can take several weeks for you to receive your certificate. You need to contact the Disclosure and Barring Service if you have any queries or want to track the progress of your DBS check.
Medical clearance
You need to meet the Group 2 UK medical standards for driver licensing to renew your taxi driver's licence.
You may still be covered by your existing medical clearance, so don't need to provide proof of this when you renew. However, if your medical clearance won't be valid on the date your current licence expires, you need to provide proof that you still meet the Group 2 standards as part of your renewal application.
If you're aged 45 to 59 you need to obtain medical clearance every five years, or every 12 months if you're aged 60 or over.
How to provide proof
To confirm you meet the standards you need to either:
- print our medical examination report and have this completed and signed by a doctor. The report includes a vision assessment which can be completed by either a doctor or optician. You may have to pay a fee to your doctor and/or optician to carry out your medical assessment.
- hold a valid HGV or PSV licence for which you received medical clearance to obtain.
You need to upload a copy of your medical examination report or HGV/PSV licence as part of your renewal application.
Fees
Licences are available for either a one or three year period.
The fee for a one year licence is £137 and for a three year licence is £221.
Renew your licence
To renew your licence you'll need to:
- confirm you've read our taxi and private hire licensing policy
- confirm you agree to us checking your information against the national register of taxi licence refusals and revocations (NR3)
- upload copies of your:
- new enhanced DBS check certificate (if required)
- medical examination report or HGV/PSV licence (if required)
- Certificate of Good Character from the relevant embassy if you've been outside of the UK for a continuous period of six months or more since receiving your last licence
- give us details of any convictions, including motoring offences and if you've attended a speed awareness course, since receiving your last licence
- provide a DVLA check code generated from the GOV.UK website, to share your driving licence information with us
- provide a tax check code generated from the GOV.UK website, to confirm you're registered for tax
- upload a photo that will be used on your licence badge that meets the passport-standard rules for digital photos
After submitting your renewal we'll process your application, email your new licence and post your new badge to you. You'll usually receive these within 10 working days. You can continue to drive until these arrive, unless we tell you otherwise. We'll email you if we need any more information to process your renewal.
You also need to destroy your old licence and badge when you receive your new ones.