PHV licensing in Leeds (Leeds City Council)
Authority
Leeds City Council
Legal framework: 1976_act_england_wales
Fees
- 0: [object Object]
Appeals
magistrates' court within 21 days
DfT 2023 best practice pushes councils to use joint authorisation agreements against out-of-area drivers; Deregulation Act 2015 cross-border hiring still lawful where operator/vehicle/driver share the same licensing authority.
PHV licensing in Leeds (Leeds City Council)
Authority: Leeds City Council Legal framework: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 + Deregulation Act 2015 Last verified: 19 April 2026
Summary
Leeds has a long list of hoops and a frustrating lack of published fees. You must pass a driving standards assessment with an approved provider (Diamond Advanced Motorists, AA DriveTech or IAM RoadSmart), an English test (ESOL Entry 3), an English and maths comprehension test, and a taxi/PHV training course. The driver licence fee, DBS cost and training prices are not on the main page, so expect to phone the licensing unit or file an FOI.
What it costs, in full
| Item | Cost | Source | Verified |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driving standards assessment | provider-set, not council | Leeds City Council | 2026-04-19 |
| English / ESOL Entry 3 test | not published, FOI required | Leeds City Council | 2026-04-19 |
| English and maths comprehension test | not published, FOI required | Leeds City Council | 2026-04-19 |
| Taxi / PHV training course | not published, FOI required | Leeds City Council | 2026-04-19 |
| Driver licence fee (3-year) | not clearly published on driver page, FOI likely needed | Leeds City Council | 2026-04-19 |
| Enhanced DBS | online, cost not given | Leeds City Council | 2026-04-19 |
| Processing time | not published | Leeds City Council | 2026-04-19 |
Applications remain valid for 12 months while you complete all steps.
If they refuse or revoke
Appeal route is the magistrates' court within 21 days.
Before you leave
Sources
- Leeds City Council apply for a hackney or PH driver licence
- Leeds City Council private hire operator licences and conditions
- Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976
- Deregulation Act 2015
- DfT taxi and PHV licensing best practice guidance 16 Nov 2023
- GOV.UK taxi driver licence overview