Apply for a drivers licence

First steps

To apply for a private hire or hackney carriage driver's licence, you need to contact the Licensing Office to arrange an appointment to process your application.   The following documents will need to be completed:

• Application form
• Criminal records bureau disclosure
• DVLA mandate disclosure

An application form can be requested by post or picked up from:

Licensing Unit
Challenge Building
Hatherton Road
Walsall
WS1 1YG

Or by using one the following:

Telephone:            01922 653581
Fax:                      01922 630697
Email:                     licensing@walsall.gov.uk

Alternatively, you can request a vehicle licence form online

When attending your appointment, you must bring with you the following documentation:

• Valid Passport
• DVLA Driving Licence
• Birth Certificate – If available
• Marriage Certificate – If available
• Proof of National Insurance Number e.g. P45
• Three recent passport size photographs
• Two documents (less than 3 months old) that shows your address.
• Completed medical report form.

If you do not have all the documentation required the application will not be accepted. All documents produced on application must be valid, bear the same name, address and date of birth.

What happen's next

When all the documents have been processed and cleared, you will be required to attend a driving training course, and take a written examination.  This takes approximately 1 day.  If you fail the examination, you will be given the opportunity to do a retake.  If you fail 3 examinations you will  be referred back to the driver training course.

When you have passed the written private hire driver examination, you may wish to become a dual licence holder (this enables you to drive both hackney carriage and private hire vehicles), if so, please make an appointment to  take a written knowledge examination.  All of the information for this examination will be given to you when you make the appointment.

When you have passed the examination’s required for the licence you wish to hold, you will be required to take a practical driving test.  On passing the practical driving test your licence will be granted.