UK taxi licence renewal: what to renew and when

Licensing is local — that's the key thing

There is no single national taxi licence. Every requirement below is set and enforced by your licensing authority (your council), following DfT statutory standards but with its own cycles, fees and paperwork. So the golden rule is: know your council's exact dates and start early. Our council guides render the specifics where we hold them.

The clocks you're managing

• Driver badge — the licence to drive. Typically renewed every one to three years depending on the council. Renewal usually needs an up-to-date DBS, a valid medical, and any refresher training.
• Vehicle licence / plate — the licence on the car itself, usually annual, with a vehicle test (often more frequent than a standard MOT — many councils test twice a year).
• DBS (criminal record) check — an enhanced DBS, kept current via the DBS Update Service so the council can re-check your status (commonly every six months). Let the Update Service subscription lapse and you may need a fresh check — which takes weeks.
• Medical (Group 2 / D4) — a doctor's assessment to Group 2 standard, on the council's cycle (often every five years, then more often past 60).
• Knowledge & English — some councils require a knowledge test and, increasingly, proof you meet an English language standard.

Why "start early" matters

The failure mode isn't the renewal fee — it's the lead time. A DBS check can take several weeks. A medical needs a GP appointment. A vehicle re-test after a fail must happen fast or the plate is suspended. Miss one date and you're off the road while it's sorted, losing income the whole time. Councils generally open the renewal window well before expiry precisely so you don't cut it fine.

What to keep on file

Inspectors and renewals both want evidence: DBS certificate number and Update Service renewal date, medical date, badge and plate expiry, insurance, and training certificates. Keeping these in one place — with reminders before each date — is the difference between a smooth renewal and a scramble.

How Original Drivers helps

The compliance tools track every one of these dates for you, apply your council's specific cycles where we have them, and remind you before each one falls due — by WhatsApp if you like. See your council's specifics in our taxi licensing guides.

*General information, current for 2026 — always confirm the detail with your own licensing authority, as local policies differ and change.*