Cambridge City Council rules applied — twice-yearly vehicle tests, 3-year training refresher, 6-month DBS checks.
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 Cambridge requires the Update Service subscription to stay live; without it, book a fresh DBS at least 8 weeks before your licence expires. | 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 Cambridge cycle: every 5 years at ages 25–60, then annually after 60. Your next due date is printed on your driver licence. | 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 Cambridge tests licensed vehicles at least twice a year; failed vehicles are suspended until re-tested (within 10 days). | 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 Hackneys: rear plate, door crests, fare + complaint info. PHVs: front and rear plates, company signs, complaint info. | 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 Cambridge requires CCTV meeting the council's published specification in all licensed vehicles. | 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
Contacting Cambridge City Council
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 01223 457000
- Licensing portal: https://pp.3csharedservices.org/licences/apply.html
Name or address changes go through the licensing portal (a fee applies per licence held); everything else to the taxi team by email or phone.
Common questions
How do I renew my taxi licence in Cambridge?
Renew through Cambridge City Council. You'll need a current enhanced DBS on the Update Service, a valid Group 2 medical, your vehicle passing the council's test (at least twice a year), and up-to-date training. The council opens the renewal window before expiry — start early so nothing lapses.
How often is a taxi vehicle tested here?
Cambridge tests licensed vehicles at least twice a year. A failed vehicle is suspended until it passes a re-test (usually required within 10 days).
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 Cambridge City Council before you rely on it.
Never miss a renewal date
Original Drivers tracks every date above on Cambridge’s cycle and reminds you before each one falls due — by WhatsApp if you like.
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