National baseline applied (DfT standards). Check your council's own policy — cycles can be stricter locally.
What to renew, and how often
| Requirement | Cycle | Evidence to keep |
|---|---|---|
DBS Update Service subscription Keep the annual subscription live and record its renewal date | Yearly | DBS certificate number + Update Service renewal date |
Six-month DBS status check The council re-checks your status roughly every six months — know when the next one lands | Every 6 months | Date and outcome of the last status check |
Safeguarding & equality training Pass the course, keep the certificate, refresh every three years | Every 3 years | Training certificate + completion date |
Group 2 medical Copy the next medical date printed on your driver licence — certificates only count if under 8 weeks old | Council-set date | Medical certificate + the accepted next-due date |
Vehicle compliance test Twice a year in Cambridge — the certificate lasts six months and the car can't work without it | Every 6 months | Certificate of compliance + next test booking |
Taximeter certificate Meter sealed, set to the current tariff, certificate carried in the vehicle | Yearly | Meter installation/compliance certificate |
Plates, signs & badge on display Plates, door signs, fare chart, complaints info and your badge — visible whenever the car works | Ongoing | Photo proof of displays (retake after any change of car) |
CCTV to council specification Cambridge requires in-vehicle CCTV meeting its published spec — keep the installation evidence | Ongoing | Installation certificate / spec-compliance note |
Designated WAV duties If your vehicle is on the council's s167 list, the s165 wheelchair duties apply to every hiring | Ongoing | Your vehicle's entry on the designated list |
Assistance dogs carried Carry assistance dogs at no extra charge — unless you hold a displayed medical exemption | Ongoing | Nothing if you comply; the exemption certificate if you hold one |
Medical exemption certificate If exempt from wheelchair/dog duties: certificate displayed in the vehicle, review date tracked | Council-set date | The exemption notice + its expiry/review date |
Sensible hours, logged Keep logging shifts — your hours record is your protection after any incident | Ongoing | Shift log with start/end times (your logbook) |
Lost property routine Quick search after every hiring; hand items in within 24 hours and keep a note | Ongoing | A dated note per item — what, when, where handed in |
Records an inspector can ask for
- DBS certificate number and issue date
- Update Service subscription and its annual renewal date
- A note of each six-month status check (date + outcome)
- Training certificate or pass record
- Completion date and the refresher due date (three years on in Cambridge)
- The medical certificate itself (council keeps the original)
- Date it was done and the next due date printed on your licence
- Any follow-up the council asked for
- Certificate of compliance and the next test date
- Taximeter installation/compliance certificate
- Photo proof that plates, signs, fare chart and badge are displayed
- Whether your vehicle is on the council's designated WAV list
- Any medical exemption certificate, its display and review date
- A short note of any hiring where a wheelchair or aid couldn't safely be carried
- Shift start/end times and breaks (your logbook does this)
- Lost property notes — what, when, where it was handed in
Common questions
How do I renew my taxi licence in Bedford?
Renew through Bedford Borough Council before your badge and plate expire. You'll typically need a current enhanced DBS (kept live on the Update Service), a valid Group 2 medical, your vehicle's test, and any refresher training. Confirm the exact steps, fees and cycles with the council directly.
How often is a taxi vehicle tested here?
Many councils test licensed vehicles more often than the annual MOT — twice a year is common. Confirm Bedford Borough Council's cycle, and re-test promptly after any fail to avoid the plate being suspended.
What records should I keep for licensing?
Keep your DBS certificate number and Update Service renewal date, medical date, badge and plate expiry dates, insurance, and any training certificates — the evidence a licensing officer can ask to see at any time.
The other half: tax and expenses
Licensing keeps you on the road; Self Assessment keeps the money straight. Our guide to self-employed taxi driver tax and expenses covers what you can claim, the records HMRC expects, and how the licensing costs on this page are treated. Your licensing authority sets the rules above; HMRC rules are the same wherever you drive.
General information, current for July 2026. Licensing rules are set locally and change — always confirm the detail with Bedford Borough Council before you rely on it.
Never miss a renewal date
Original Drivers tracks every date above on your council’s cycle and reminds you before each one falls due — by WhatsApp if you like.
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