Taxi licence in Cardiff: cost, how to apply and how long it takes
Written by Sam Allcock · Last updated 23 August 2026 · Facts checked against Cardiff Council's own published pages on the date above
Cardiff Council licenses hackney carriage and private hire drivers under its own published driver licence conditions document, but we were not able to confirm a single current, clearly published fee figure on the council's public pages during our research (Cardiff Council, 23 August 2026).
Rather than guess, this page focuses on what we could confirm and routes you straight to Cardiff Council's own taxi licensing pages for the exact current cost.
This page sets out what Cardiff does publish clearly - for the wider system, see our taxi and private hire hub, and for the general driver process, see how to become a taxi driver.
This is general information sourced from Cardiff Council's own website, not professional or legal advice - always confirm current fees and requirements with the council directly before you apply.
What's different about taxi licensing in Cardiff?
Cardiff is licensed under Welsh taxi and private hire vehicle law, which the Welsh Government has been reforming - GOV.WALES has published integrated impact assessment guidance on taxi and private hire vehicle licensing that applies specifically in Wales, separate from the English system (GOV.WALES, taxi and private hire vehicles licensing guidance).
Cardiff publishes detailed Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions as a standalone document, alongside separate operator licence conditions - worth reading in full before you apply, since some Welsh authorities' conditions differ from typical English council requirements.
What does a Cardiff taxi or private hire driver licence cost?
✓ Checked against Cardiff Council, 23 August 2026 - fee figures not published clearly enough to reproduce here.
What do you need to apply in Cardiff?
| Requirement | Cardiff's standard |
|---|---|
| Licence conditions | Set out in Cardiff Council's Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions document |
| Legal framework | Licensed under Welsh taxi and private hire vehicle law, distinct from the equivalent English framework |
| DBS, medical, knowledge test | Not itemised with specific figures on the pages we could access - check the council's application guidance directly |
How do you apply for a Cardiff taxi licence?
You apply directly to Cardiff Council for a hackney carriage or private hire driver licence (Cardiff Council, 23 August 2026).
- Read Cardiff Council's taxi drivers page and its published driver licence conditions document.
- Check the council's "how to apply" section for the current application route and required documents.
- Submit your application along with the current fee, once confirmed with the council.
How long does a Cardiff taxi licence take?
We couldn't confirm a published working-day processing timescale on Cardiff Council's main taxi licensing pages during our research (Cardiff Council, 23 August 2026) - contact the council's licensing team directly for a realistic estimate.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Cardiff taxi licence cost?
We couldn't confirm a current published fee figure on the council's public pages - contact Cardiff Council's licensing team directly before budgeting.
Is taxi licensing in Cardiff the same as in England?
No - Cardiff is licensed under Welsh taxi and private hire vehicle law, which the Welsh Government has been reforming separately from the equivalent English framework.
Where can I read Cardiff's driver licence conditions?
In the council's published Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions document, available on Cardiff Council's website.
Does Cardiff have separate operator licence conditions?
Yes - Cardiff Council publishes separate Private Hire Operator Licence Conditions as its own standalone document.
Where do I actually apply for a Cardiff taxi licence?
Directly with Cardiff Council - there's no fee-saving shortcut, and you don't need a paid service to submit it.
apply for licence is an independent guide and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to Cardiff Council, GOV.UK, GOV.WALES or any government body. This page is general information, not legal or professional advice - for anything specific to your application, contact Cardiff Council's licensing team directly.