In order to apply for a Dual Driver’s Licence, you must:
- Hold a full DVLA, Northern Ireland or other EEA state driver’s licence
- Have held your licence for at least 36 months
- Be a “fit and proper” person
In order to establish that you are a “fit and proper” person you will need to:
- Provide details of your driving history with your DVLA records.
- Provide evidence of your conviction history by completing a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Disclosure form to Enhanced Level.
- Pass a Private Hire/Hackney Carriage practical driving assessment test.
- Make an appointment with your doctor for a medical examination, to DVLA Group II Medical Standards.
It may take up to 12 weeks for a licence application to be completed as we rely on information from other external organisations, such as the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Initial application: Obtain DBS Disclosure
The first step is to obtain a DBS Disclosure. Please contact the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) on 03000 200 190 and request an Enhanced Disclosure application form.
You will need to make it clear to the DBS that you are going to be a ‘taxi’ driver and have been told by your local council to contact them and request an enhanced disclosure application form. You will need to provide our organisation reference name which is Wealden & Rother District Councils and the reference number which is 20969500002.
Applicants are required to have read the DBS Enhanced Check Privacy Policy before making an application for disclosure and you will be asked to declare that you have read and understood how the DBS will process your personal data on your application form. Please visit their website to read the DBS Enhanced Check Privacy Policy
The DBS will then send you a partially completed application form which you will need to complete and bring to an appointment with one of our Licensing Officers.
We strongly encourage all our drivers to sign up to the DBS Update Service. Signing up to this service will make it easier to renew your Dual Driver licence in the future. For more information or to register for the service please visit DBS Update Service
You can view the DBS code of practice at DBS code of Practice
If a new applicant has spent six continuous months or more overseas, the Licensing Authority will expect to see evidence of a criminal record check from the country/countries covering the period before a licence application can be made. This period will be for ten years. This is because we are considering some offences are not spent for ten years.
It is the applicant’s responsibility to obtain a criminal record check from the country in question.
Initial application: other documents
Once you have received your DBS application form, you must also download and complete the following documents:
- Dual driver application form – this will entitle you to drive both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles.
- DVLA Mandate – this authorises the DVLA to release details of your driving licence history to Wealden District Council.
Book an Appointment
When you are ready to proceed, please call 01424 787550 to book an appointment. This will be held at the Town Hall, Bexhill-on-Sea, TN39 3JX. Please bring with you the following documentation:
- Your partially completed application form from the DBS
- Completed dual driver application form
- Payment for application (see Application Fees page). This can be made by card using our online payment system
- The DBS Disclosure payment needs to be made to Rother District Council and you can do so by visiting the Rother Online Payment System
- Your current DVLA driving licence (which must have been held for 36 months unless you have taken an advanced driving assessment)
- A completed DVLA Mandate
- Passport or birth certificate
- Household utility bill/bank statement not more than 3 months old, confirming your current address
- Passport style photo
- Full address history for the last five years
- Details of any criminal and motoring offences (including cautions and convictions, spent convictions and any pending prosecutions
- Details of any licences held with other Councils
If you have spent six continuous months or more overseas, we will expect to see evidence of a criminal record check from the country/countries covering the period, before a licence application can be made. This period will be for ten years. This is because there are some offences that cannot be considered spent for ten years. A Certificate of Good Conduct/Character should be obtained from the UK Embassy/Consulate for the relevant country or countries.
Make a payment
Before your appointment you should also make a payment for a new dual driver licence using our online payment system
Knowledge Test
As part of your application you will also need to book and complete a Knowledge Test after your first appointment. Please visit our Knowledge Test page for more information. We advise that you familiarise yourself with the Policy and Guidance document which provides information on Wealden licence and taxi specific conditions. You will need to do your own research on the local area, where questions will cover the whole of Wealden District.
Training Courses
From 1st June 2024, as part of your application you will also need to complete mandatory training courses and questionnaires in:
- Safeguarding
- Disability Awareness
- Customer Care
Information about booking the Safeguarding and Disability Awareness courses will be provided to you at your first appointment, they can be booked / accessed below:
Disability Awareness
Complete ONE of the following courses:
Note there is an additional fee for both courses payable at the time of booking.
Customer Care
The Customer Care questionnaire considers the attitudes and behaviours expected from a driver licenced with Wealden District Council and can be accessed using the following link:
Medical Report
You must have a medical examination, carried out by your own doctor, to DVLA Group II Medical Standards. This will be required with each time your licence is renewed until reaching 65 years. After this it will be required annually.
You will need to make an appointment with your GP (who may charge £80 to £180) and take this form with you. In certain circumstances it may be necessary to consult with the Council’s medical consultant.
If you have Group II Medical from a previous job that is not older than 12 months then you may use this with your Dual Driver application. Please speak to an officer if you think this applies to you.
Private Hire/Hackney Carriage Driver Assessment
A list of the organisations we use to undertake this practical driving test will be given to you at your first appointment. (NB: Applicants who hold a current PCV Licence will be exempt from this requirement).
If you are unable to prove that you have English Language qualifications to a secondary school level then you will need to take our English test.
Criminal Convictions’ Policy
The purpose of the Criminal Convictions’ Policy is to provide guidance on the criteria taken into account by the Council when determining whether or not an applicant or an existing licence holder is a fit and proper person to hold a hackney carriage and/or private hire drivers / vehicle licence and / or a private hire operator’s licence.
The overriding aim of the Licensing Authority is to protect the safety of the public. The Licensing Authority is concerned to ensure that:
- A person is a fit and proper person
- The person does not pose a threat to the public
- The public are safeguarded from dishonest persons
- The safeguarding of children and young persons.
For full details please read our Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licensing: Criminal Convictions’ Policy
Dual Drivers and The Immigration Act 2016
The Immigration Act 2016 introduces new sanctions to tackle illegal migration and illegal working. If you don’t have the right to work in the UK you will not be able to apply for a Dual Driver licence.
NR3 National register of refusals and revocations
The Local Government Association (LGA) has launched a national register of Hackney Carriage and Private Hire licence refusals and revocations.
Other Information
To be a licensed driver, you must be a fit and proper person. If you are abrupt or aggressive when talking to Council staff, this may prevent us from approving your application.
Incomplete applications, or applications not accompanied by the required fee will not be accepted. Applications which are withdrawn for any reason will be subject to an administrative handling fee.
Please see our Taxi Licensing Fees page for more details.