Running a taxi business in Northern Ireland means getting three separate licences in place, all under the Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008. The operator licence covers your business. The vehicles and the drivers are licensed separately, and as an operator you carry a duty to make sure only licensed vehicles and licensed drivers work for you.
The three licences for a taxi service in Northern Ireland
What each licence covers, how long it lasts and what happens if it is missing.
| Licence | Who holds it | Maximum length | Offence if missing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator licence (section 1) | The person or business that accepts bookings or provides taxis | 5 years, or a shorter period you choose or the Department decides (section 2(7)) | A fine up to level 5 on summary conviction |
| Taxi licence (section 12) | The owner of each taxi | 1 year (section 13(7)) | The driver and the operator are each guilty, and so is an owner who permits it. Fine up to level 5 |
| Taxi driver's licence (section 22) | Each driver | 3 years (section 23(8)) | The driver is guilty, fine up to level 5. The operator and the owner of the taxi are also guilty, with a due diligence defence for the operator |
The operator licence
Steps to start a taxi service
- Decide whether you are a small or a large operator. A small operator has no more than two taxis available at any one time. You cannot change type once the licence has been approved.
- Line up a licensed driver and a licensed vehicle. You need at least one person who holds a valid taxi driver's licence and at least one vehicle with a valid public service vehicle licence before the licence is granted.
- Choose your operating centre. It must have an address in Northern Ireland. If it is open to the public, you must hold public liability insurance with a minimum indemnity of £5,000,000 for any one event.
- Apply online through DVA at least 8 weeks before you want to start. Have your identity verified through a nidirect account and your driving licence ready, and pay the £140 application fee.
- Set up your records before the first booking. You must enter each booking before the journey starts, and keep vehicle, driver, complaints and lost property records.
- Brief your drivers. An affiliated driver must tell you the prescribed particulars of each booking the driver carries out, and cannot normally be affiliated to more than one licensed operator.
- Tell the Department within 7 days of any conviction, any change to the information in your application, or a driver becoming unavailable because of unsatisfactory conduct.
Legal basis
Primary legislation and key regulations
Browse UK legislation (opens in a new tab) legislation.gov.ukOfficial guidance
nidirect — Apply for a taxi operator licence (opens in a new tab)
Department for Infrastructure — Taxi operator licensing fee guide (opens in a new tab)
legislation.gov.uk — Taxis Act (Northern Ireland) 2008 (opens in a new tab)
legislation.gov.uk — Taxi Operators Licensing Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2012 (opens in a new tab)