Taxi licensing and safety

Please read our documents

• Guidance for proprietors and drivers of Hackney carriage and private hire vehicles.
• Policy regarding the relevance of convictions and other related information.
• Taxi Inspection Manual.
• Exemption Policy.
• Medical Report.
• A guide for taxi drivers - Child Sexual Exploitation.

All applicants

As part of the licensing process all applicants will have to:

• Pay a non-refundable search fee.
• Apply for a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.
• Take a multiple-choice test to prove general knowledge of the Tandridge District area.
• Have Driving Vehicle Licensing Authority checks carried out.
• Undertake right to work checks
• Provide 2 recommendation references
• Pass an approved driving test undertaken by the Blue Lamp Trust.
• Have a medical carried out by their GP.

We will also carry out passport and identity checks. To apply please contact us.

The vehicle must have appropriate insurance for the licence and if the vehicle is a year old a current MOT. The applicant must provide sufficient proof of ownership. Our Licensing Office will check all this documentation before the vehicle inspection.

When the forms and checks have been satisfactorily completed and a fee paid, we will test the vehicle. The meter and roof lights, supplied by the owner, must be in place before the vehicle is tested.

The taxi licence plates, which remain the property of Tandridge District Council, must be fixed to the rear and to the front windscreen. The rear plate is fitted by our motor vehicle workshop once a vehicle has passed the inspection. The front plate goes into the wallet displayed on the windscreen.

The vehicle must have appropriate insurance for the licence and if the vehicle is over a year old a current MOT. The applicant must provide sufficient proof of ownership. Our Licensing Office will check all this documentation before the vehicle inspection.

When the forms and checks have been satisfactorily completed and a fee paid, we will test the vehicle.

The taxi licence plates, which remain the property of Tandridge District Council, must be fixed to the rear and to the front windscreen. The rear plate is fitted by our motor vehicle workshop once a vehicle has passed the inspection. The front plate goes into the wallet displayed on the windscreen.

• Check your driver is wearing an identification badge we have issued. It will show a number and a photographer of the driver.
• Check the car has a taxi sign on the roof or licence plate.
• Pre book a cab or taxi whenever possible.
• Don't give the driver your name - ask them who they are collecting.
• Always sit in the back of the vehicle.
• All doors should remain unlocked when the taxi is carrying passengers.
• Carry your mobile phone in your hand, so you can easily use it if you need to.
• If you are at all suspicious, don't get in and make a note of the number plate.

For a reminder of what to look for read our Taxi Safe leaflet document.

In Tandridge taxi ranks can be found at:

• Station Road East, Oxted.
• Station Road West, Oxted.
• Station Road, Lingfield.
• Station Approach, Warlingham.
• Station Road, Caterham.
• Harestone Valley Road, Caterham.

Tandridge District Council supports and encourages all licenced taxi drivers to pay particular regard to the needs of the travelling public. Drivers should provide assistance to people in wheelchairs, carry them in safety and not charge extra for doing so.  Tandridge licensed taxi drivers will carry guide, hearing and other prescribed assistance dogs in their taxis without additional charge. Drivers who have a medical condition which is aggravated by exposure to dogs will display an exemption badge on their windscreen.

Wheelchair accessibility

Wheelchair accessible vehicles can be pre-booked by some of the private hire operators and taxi proprietors. The main private hire licensed operators in Tandridge that may be able to provide wheelchair accessible vehicles can be contacted on the following numbers:

Total Transport Solutions     01883 715315
Catax Taxis Caterham     01883 345151

Some Hackney Carriage Proprietors advertise their phone numbers on their vehicles and these can be found on any of the town’s taxi ranks. You can also view a list below with some of the proprietors’ telephone numbers.

Individual Drivers with wheelchair accessible vehicles:

Mr Allen      07557 731409

Mr Kostov   07770 615163 

In case of complaint:

• Check fare shown on meter
• Note the driver's badge number
• Note the vehicle licence plate number
• Note time, date and place
• Note the registration number of vehicle

Who to contact with details of your complaint:

Please complete our complaint form or write to the Taxi Licensing Office, Warren Lane Depot, Warren Lane, Hurst Green, Oxted RH8 .