Dear

TfL Ref: FOI-2996-1718

Thank you for your email received on 22 January asking for information about private hire licensing.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm that we do not hold the information you require. You asked:

“I would like to know that how much time it takes to process and draw a result from a private hire driver application(paper and online) with all asked data provided by applicant and with clear CRB check. Also what is the checklist for granting a private hire driver licence.”

The decision to grant a private hire licence depends on a number of factors. These include:

• Checking that an applicant meets the mandatory requirements for licensing, such as the right to work in the U.K, and that they hold the relevant type of driving licence and driving experience.

• Consideration of the applicant’s medical fitness and whether they meet the DVLA’s Group 2 standard of medical fitness to drive. This may include a full review of the applicant’s medical history by our medical advisors.

• Ensuring that the applicant’s character meets the required standard, including a review of the results of a DBS check.

• A topographical skills assessment.

Further information on the requirements for licensing can be found at the following location: www.tfl.gov.uk/info-for/taxis-and-private-hire/licensing

Once a complete application is received an initial assessment takes place to ensure that all the required documents have been provided and the mandatory requirements are met.

The candidate is then invited to apply for a topographical skills assessment. The time taken to complete this depends on a number of factors, including when the applicant contacts us to arrange an assessment, test availability - when and where they sit their assessment and the applicants ability to meet the required standard, or whether a retest is required.

Given the variety of applications that we receive we are unable to provide an estimate of the average time taken to process private hire applications.

As of 25 January 2017, we had 354 new private hire driver applications and 325 renewal applications awaiting assessment. New applications are currently being assessed within five days of receipt and renewals within three days of receipt.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for some reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely

Paulina Tuffour
FOI Case Officer

FOI Case Management Team
General Counsel
Transport for London