Renewing a Dundee private hire driver licence: no reminders, and a meter changes the licence you need

The fee and the date

From Licensing Fees from 1 April 2026, Dundee City Council, read 1 November 2026. The online payment reference for a private hire driver's licence is PHD.

That works out at about £78 a year. The fee table lists 31 May as the renewal date for both driver licences, but the pages don't explain how that fits with a licence granted part way through a year, so go by the date on your own licence. The council's civic licensing page says applications are non-refundable, because the fee covers processing, police checks, officer time and advertising.

No reminder is coming

The council's procedures for civic applications say reminders are not issued, in capitals. They also say an application can be made at any time but isn't deemed lodged until the fee has been paid. So the renewal is on you to remember, and it isn't lodged until the money's gone through.

That document also says applications lie for 21 days. With no objections and within policy, a licence can be granted under powers delegated to officers, and a temporary licence can be granted. If there's an objection or representation, you have to attend the Licensing Committee. The taxi and private hire page says Police Scotland is consulted on all applications. The procedures document has no date on it and still refers to Tayside Police, so treat it as older than the rest.

Private hire badge or taxi badge: the meter decides

The council's page says a private hire car driver's licence only lets you drive a private hire car that isn't fitted with a taximeter. If the private hire car has a meter, you need a taxi driver's licence, which the same page says is commonly called a taxi badge. Worth checking before you renew if the car you drive has changed.

What the application needs from you

You apply and pay online through MyDundee. The page links a medical form and a DVLA form for private hire drivers, and the conditions add a few things for renewals:

• Training evidence. Under condition 23 of the private hire driver conditions, evidence of having completed an approved taxi driving training course must be provided with any application to renew. The council's page says drivers should be trained to SVQ level 2 or equivalent, and points to the SCQF level 5 certificate.
• Your operator. Condition 22 says the name of the operator or operators you drive for must be on the application, and any change must be notified within seven days.
• A tax check. GOV.UK's guidance (last updated 11 September 2023) says the tax check rules have applied in Scotland since 2 October 2023, and covers renewing a private hire licence. Dundee's own page says first-time applicants confirm they've read the tax guidance.

Group 2 medical standards

The council's page says drivers must meet Group 2 standards as stated in the conditions of the licence. If your circumstances change or you aren't sure you still meet them, you must tell the Licensing Office. Condition 20 also says you must tell the council straight away about any illness or medical condition that may affect your driving. The council provides a medical certificate form.

Also worth knowing

• Under condition 16, a change of address has to be notified within 14 days using a change of address form.
• The council's page says no private hire operator licences are currently available, with a limit of 184, and that only electric vehicles can be placed on service. That's about the car licence, not your driver licence. The fee table lists the operator's licence at £270 for one year.
• The Licensing Committee meets monthly except in August, according to the same page, which matters if an objection sends yours to committee.

Things the pages don't tell you

• Whether a renewing private hire driver sits the street knowledge test again. The page links a private hire street knowledge test style, but the fee note only mentions tests for taxi driver applications.
• How early before expiry you can apply, or what happens after a late one.
• Whether the medical form has to go in with every renewal or only when asked for.
• Which office to use. The taxi page gives 20 City Square and the civic licensing page gives 21 City Square. Licensing is on 01382 434403 or at licensing.board@dundeecity.gov.uk.

Comparing councils? See private hire licence costs across Scotland, or how very differently it works in Edinburgh.

Sources

• Taxis and Private Hire Cars — Dundee City Council (read 1 November 2026)
• Civic Government Act and miscellaneous fees (from 1 April 2026)
• Procedures for applying for civic applications (undated, read 1 November 2026)
• Private hire driver licence conditions (undated, read 1 November 2026)
• Civic Licensing — Dundee City Council (read 1 November 2026)
• Complete a tax check for a taxi, private hire or scrap metal licence — GOV.UK (last updated 11 September 2023)