New operator licence

Apply for a new operator licence

You must have a private hire operator licence to dispatch a private hire vehicle to a customer. An operator must make sure all vehicles and drivers have the necessary licences.

If you would like to apply for an operator’s licence please see the below information about how to apply and the application process. You should read and understand the policy before submitting your application. Please ensure that you understand the Private Hire Operator conditions.

• Taxi and Private Hire Policy
• Licensing fees & charges 2025/26
• Private Hire Operator licence application form

You will need:

• A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) basic check certificate (unless you are a licensed driver with Tewkesbury Borough Council).
• Proof of right to work in the UK (unless you are a licensed driver with us or applying as a limited company)
• Your business must have an operating base within the Tewkesbury Borough Council area
• Proof of payment of the licence fee. You can make payment for the application fee online.

Please note, we currently only accept complete applications. If an application is not submitted with all correct documents, or the documents are not valid, then we will need to reject the application. If an application is rejected, it will not be logged, and the application will need to be re-submitted in full.

Operator applications where any applicant is not a licensed driver with Tewkesbury Borough Council

If any of the applicants for an operator application are not licensed drivers with us, then you will need to email licensing@tewkesbury.gov.uk stating that you wish to apply for an operator’s licence but one or more of your applicants/directors are not licensed drivers with us and requesting an appointment to submit your application. You will need to bring the documents listed above with you to the appointment.

Operator applications where all applicants are licensed drivers with Tewkesbury Borough Council

If all the applicants/directors for your operator application are licensed drivers with us, then you will be able to submit your application to us by email to licensing@tewkesbury.gov.uk or bringing your complete application to the Tewkesbury Borough Council Offices during our drop-in hours.

Operator applications for limited companies

If you are applying to license a limited company, then you will need to email the completed application form and proof of payment to us at licensing@tewkesbury.gov.uk or bring your application to us at one of our drop-in sessions listed below.

If the director, or one of the directors/company secretaries in cases where this applies, are not licensed drivers with Tewkesbury Borough Council, then a basic DBS certificate must be provided by any director/company secretary to which this applies.

Drop-in hours 

If you wish to drop a vehicle application off at Reception, we are currently advising applicants to bring them in during our scheduled drop-in hours. These are times when a member of the Licensing Team will be making themselves available to check any application that is submitted in-person at our offices.

Please note, if you choose to come and drop an application off outside of our drop-in hours, you can still leave this at Reception. However, an officer will not be able to check the application for you. If the application is incomplete, then your application will be posted back to you with a note explaining what else we would need for a complete application when you re-submit.

Find all the details for our upcoming drop-in hours using the sidebar link.

Determination of the licence

If all of the steps above are satisfactory, your licence will be processed and with you within in 20 working days of the Council receiving the full and valid application.