Operator’s Licence

Companies that run a fleet of vehicles and want to take private bookings (i.e. airport and theatre runs) must have a private hire vehicle drivers licence and your vehicle must be licensed as a private hire vehicle (PHV). All three licenses must be with the same licensing authority

If you accept bookings for PHVs, you will need an operator's licence.

We currently offer two types of operators licence, a small licence and a large licence. The small licence allows the operator to run a fleet up to 3 licenced vehicles and is valid for 1 year. The large licence allows the operator to run an unlimited number of licenced vehicles and is valid for 5 years. Fees for the licenses can be viewed on on our fees and charges download.

Applying for an operator licence

You can apply for an operator licence if you:

1. are 21 years or over.
2. have held a full UK driving licence for at least 3 years.

To apply for an operator licence you must complete an online application form.

Once we have received your application form, we will contact you to arrange an initial interview with an authorised officer.

To apply for an operator licence, you need to provide the following supporting documents:

1. A completed application form (HC10).
2. Proof of your right to work in the UK i.e. a Passport or driving licence.
3. Your National insurance number.
4. Proof of your current address on two separate utility bills.
5. The correct fee, if not already paid for during the application form. You can see our current fees on our fees and charges download.
6. Complete and supply a basic Disclosure and Barring Service check dated within the last 3 months.
7. A certificate of Good Conduct, if you have lived anywhere other than the UK.

Please note: If you have criminal convictions, your application may be referred to the Licensing Sub-committee for a decision.

If we do not grant your licence, you can make an appeal to the magistrates court.

Initial interview

During the interview we will check through your application form, supporting documents and confirm the appropriate fee has been paid. If the fee is still outstanding, we can accept a card payment, this card be taken during the interview stage.

Please note: If you attend the interview without any of the supporting documents you may be asked to reschedule the interview when you have obtained all the required documents.

Renew your operator's licence

To renew your operator licence, you need to:

1. Provide a completed application form.
2. Pay the correct fee.
3. Complete and supply a basic Disclosure and Barring Service check dated within the last 3 months.

Operator requirements

All operator licence holders have certain conditions they must meet to operate within the City of Southend-on-Sea. A full list of the current conditions can be found within the operator's licence application form.