Taxis and Private Hire Cars | Dundee City Council

Taxi Operators Licence - Plates Available

We currently have no Taxi Operators licences available. We will update the website any become available. The Licensing Committee at its meeting held on 20^thMarch 2025 agreed that new plates would be issued on the following basis, the Licensing Committee further agreed on 7th November 2025 that they would include Wheelchair accessible hybrid plug in vehicles to the list :

Electric wheelchair accessible vehicles be placed on services – list of vehicles listed listed below.
The Licensing Committee at its meeting held on 4th November agreed to add Wheelchair accessible Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles onto the approved list of vehicles you can place on service for the available plates.
You can apply for the application in an individual or a company name.

The plates will be issued on a first come first served basis.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk. You can also see the conditions below.

Vehicles which have been approved

Citroen E-Dispatch
Citroen E-Berlingo
Peugeot E-Horizon
Peugeot E-Traveller
Vauxhall Vivaro-e
Mercedes E-Vito
LEVC TX-5

Approved List of Vehicles

Approved List of Vehicles - 21st November 2025

CCTV in Private Hire & Taxis

If you are installing a dash cam then you do not need approval, you only need approval when you are applying for inward facing CCTV.

In allowing the installation and use of CCTV the Licensing Committee recognises that such systems can be used to prevent and detect crime, reduce the fear of crime and enhance the safety of taxis and private hire car drivers as well as their passenger.

This policy also seeks to ensure that the installation and operation of CCTV systems do not compromise the safety of either drivers or passengers or unreasonably interfere with the privacy of member of the public.

In order to have CCTV installed in your car you must notify apply for a request for variation to your licence this can be done by completing an application for variation and paying the fee of £50, the request will be approved under delegated powers and we will write to you with the details of how to order the CCTV along with the discount code.

The only CCTV systems that can be installed are the ones which have been approved by the Licensing Committee. The list of approved systems can be found below. You need to apply for a variation to the licence and this can be done using the link below the fee for the application is £50.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk

Drivers Group 2 Standards - Conditions and Guidance

Taxi and Private Hire Drivers must meet group 2 standards as stated in the conditions of the licence. If your circumstances change and you do not meet group 2 standards or are not sure if you meet group 2 standards then you must notify the Licensing Office, you can contact the office on 01382 434403, licensing.board@dundeecity.gov.uk or by visiting the office at 20 City Square, Dundee, DD1 3BY.

The guidance can be found on the Government's website - if you are unsure you can contact your doctor and they can advise you if you meet group 2 standards and if you should notify the office.

Fares

Taxi Fares as at 1st December 2024

Fees and Meeting Dates

Licensing Committee/Board Timetable 2025/26
Licensing Committee/Board Timetable 2026/27
Current Licensing Fees - 1st April 2023
Current Garage Fees - 9th December 2024
Re-Test Fees

LEZ Retrofit

The LEZ Retrofit Fund has re opened for new applications, You can apply online via the Energy Saving Trust's website.

List of WAV Vehicles Currently on Service and available for hire

List of WAV Vehicles - Low Volume
List of WAV Vehicles - Full Volume

Limit on Taxi Licences

At the meeting of the Licensing Committee on 20th March 2025 it was agreed that there was 19 plates available and they would be issued out on the following conditions :

Electric wheelchair accessible vehicles be placed on services
Offered out to existing 38 Taxi Operators - Low Volume (OP900 - OP1499) - they need to apply before 30th April
If the allocation is not taken up then they will be offered out to existing Taxi Operators - Full Volume (op1500 +) - they would need to apply before 31st May
If the allocation is not taken up at this stage then it would be open to anyone to apply and the website would be updated at this stage
They will be offered out on a first come first served basis
They need to apply using the application and emailing the application to licensing.board@dundeecity.gov.uk and paying the fee of £250 using the link
They will still need to renew the existing operator before 31st May if they want to keep running the current vehicle unless the new plate has been granted and a vehicle is plated
If was also agreed that we would look at hybrid vehicles and come back to the Licensing Committee at a later stage with proposals

You can view the report which was considered by the Licensing Committee : Report 92-2025

At its meeting held on 2nd March 2017 the Licensing Committee considered the Dundee Taxi Survey Report 2017 (597KB PDF) and agreed :

that there was no significant demand for taxis in terms of Section 10(3) of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982;
to resolve that no new licences be issued until the number of licences fell below 555, at which time a further survey would be undertaken to determine if that figure was still appropriate as an indicator of unmet demand, subject always to the Committee's legal duty to consider, in individual cases, whether any exceptions should be made to that limit;
that a full survey be held in 3 years time with interim or top up surveys annually; and
to note that the report to be prepared by officers containing proposals for the maintenance of the 60/40 WAV/Saloon car split decided by the Committee at the meeting on 23rd October, 2012, with particular attention to how such licences would be allocated between operators, would only be forthcoming as and when a report indicating that there was significant unmet demand was received.

Further details and policy reports can be found at:

Minute of meeting of the Licensing Committee on 27th June 2013
Minute of meeting of the Licensing Committee on 23rd October 2012
Minute of meeting of the Licensing Committee on 20th December 2011

Policies

Policy on Exemptions from carrying Assistance Dogs (1 April 2012)
Section 21 Guidance - Out of Dundee Journeys
Policy on Corporate Licences and Electric Vehicles (3rd March 2016)
Policy on New Grant of Taxi Licences (1 September 2016)
Policy on Types of Vehicles permitted as Private Hire Cars (1st September 2016)

Private Hire Car Driver's Licence - Apply Online and Conditions

This is needed to drive a Private Hire Car. This only allows the holder to drive a Private Hire Car which is not fitted with a taximeter. Anyone wishing to drive a Private Hire Car which is fitted with a taximeter should apply for a Taxi Driver's Licence.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk.

First-time applicants must give confirmation that you are aware of the guidance about your tax obligations.

Schedule 23 to Finance Act 2011 (Data Gathering Powers) and Schedule 36 to Finance Act 2008 (Information and Inspection Powers), grant HMRC powers to obtain relevant information from third parties. This includes licensing bodies being required to provide information about licence applicants.

You need to complete a tax check the following GOV.UK website addresses for HMRC guidance about tax registration obligations:

You can complete a self assessment at www.gov.uk

Private Hire Car Operator's Licence - Apply Online and Conditions

You need a Private Hire Car Operators Licence if you are driving a vehicle with 8 or less passengers for hire or reward. If the vehicle is 9 or over then this is classed as a minibus and you should contact DVLA.

We currently have no Private Hire Operators licences available. We will update the website any become available.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk.

The currently policy still applies that only electric vehicles can be placed on service.

This is needed to put a vehicle on the road as a Private Hire Car (note that this Licence also covers Limousines and Airport Transfer Vehicles). Any new plate granted after 1st September 2016 will need to meet the Electric vehicle policy see below link for details.

Taxi Driver Training

The Licensing Committee have agreed that all drivers should be trained to SVQ level 2 or equivalent before they are granted a licence.

The course details and centre which provide the course can be found on the website : Certificate Introduction to the Role of the Professional Taxi and Private Hire Driver SCQF level 5 - SQA.

Unite the Union : 01382 811573 may also be able to provide the course.

The benefits of training are

For the trade it will:

Improve the image of the taxi trade
Result in a better quality of service and reduce the number of complaints
Provide a better image of Dundee, especially with visitors and tourists

For the operator/taxi offices it will:

Attract more drivers with the right skills
Improve reliability and retention of drivers
Improve competitiveness and best value
Raise standards in the quality of service provided
Increase customer satisfaction, reduce complaints and liabilities
Improve loyalty of customers
Raise the profile of the company
Improve business performance

For the driver it will provide:

Improved self-esteem and job satisfaction
The prospect to enhance earnings through quality of service provided
The opportunity to work in an acknowledged profession
An opportunity to engage in learning and obtain a recognised qualification
Enhance the quality of service provided
The potential to reduce insurance costs

For Dundee City Council it will:

Reduce costs of monitoring drivers
Result in fewer complaints and public risk
Make it easier for local authorities to collaborate on licensing regimes thereby assisting labour mobility
Local authorities create a locally licensed service which achieves nationally recognised standards

There are over 700 Licensed Taxis and Private Cars in Dundee. The majority of vehicles are saloon cars which are licensed to carry 4 passengers. There are over 200 wheelchair accessible taxis which can carry a maximum of 8 passengers. Stretched limos are licensed as Private Hire Cars.

Taxis can pick up passengers in the street whilst Private Hire Cars must be pre booked.

Police Scotland are consulted on all applications and applicants for Taxi Driver Licences need to pass a Knowledge Test.

All vehicles are tested to high standard.

Applications are considered by the Licensing Committee which meets monthly, with the exception of August, when the Council is in recess.

Taxi Driver's Licence - Apply Online, Guidance Notes and Conditions

Commonly called a Taxi Badge and needed to drive a Taxi or Private Hire Car fitted with a taximeter. The Licensing Committee have agreed that all drivers should be trained to SVQ level 2 or equivalent before they are issued a licence. See taxi driver training link above for more details.

For the avoidance of doubt no temporary licences are being issued until the training is completed.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk.

First-time applicants must give confirmation that you are aware of the guidance about your tax obligations.

You need to complete a tax check the following GOV.UK website addresses for HMRC guidance about tax registration obligations:

You can complete a self assessment at www.gov.uk

Taxi Operator's Licence - Apply Online, Guidance Notes and Conditions

Electric wheelchair accessible vehicles be placed on services – list of vehicles listed listed below.
The Licensing Committee at its meeting held on 4th November agreed to add Wheelchair accessible Plug-in Hybrid Vehicles onto the approved list of vehicles you can place on service for the available plates.

The plates will be issued on a first come first served basis.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk.

Taxi & Private Hire Booking Licence - Apply Online and Conditions

This is required when bookings are being taken from premises where there are more than 3 vehicles operating as Taxis or Private Hire Cars.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk

Taxi & Private Hire Booking Office Conditions

First-time applicants must give confirmation that you are aware of the guidance about your tax obligations.

You need to complete a tax check the following GOV.UK website addresses for HMRC guidance about tax registration obligations:

You can complete a self assessment on www.gov.uk

Taxi Survey Reports

Variation to Licence – Advertising, Tinted Windows & Change to Directors/Partners and Day to Day Manager

The Council allow up to full livery advertising on Taxis and a limited form of advertising on Private Hire Cars.

Tinted windows is only allowed on Private Hire Vehicles under delegated powers if the application is for a Taxi Operators Licence then this would need to go to the Licensing Committee as you need to install CCTV, Details can be found under the CCTV tab.

Taxi Advertising

You can apply to have an advert on a vehicle. The Policy for advertising is as follows :

Taxis - No adverts on the back window. No alcohol or tobacco related products.

Private Hire – Can only advertise their own business, this includes advertising the phone number of the taxi office they work from. They can’t have any advertising which includes the word ‘Taxi ‘.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk

Tinted Windows in Private Hire Operators

You can apply for a variation if you have tinted windows in your private hire vehicle.

You can apply and pay online at : my.dundee.gov.uk

Variations including Change of Directors/Partners or appointment of new day to day manager

If you have company and need to change a director once it has been changed at company’s house. You can notify us and pay the fee of £50 online.

If the change is to remove or add a partner the you will need to upload a partnership agreement with the application.

You can apply and pay online at my.dundeecity.gov.uk

Wheelchair Exemption Certificate

Drivers who drive a wheelchair accessible vehicles can apply for a wheelchair exemption certificate. If you want more information on this you email the office licensing.board@dundeecity.gov.uk or call 01382434444. There is a fee of £50 for this application and you will need to submit evidence with the application.

How to make a complaint

You can make a complaint by email to licensing.board@dundeecity.gov.uk or in writing to Licensing Department, 21 City Square, Dundee, DD1 3BY. Once we receive the complaint we will pass this onto the correct officers to investigate and contact you with the outcome.