# Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998, Section 13: London PHV driver’s licences.

Extent: E+W

(1) Any person may apply to the licensing authority for a private hire vehicle driver’s licence for London (in this Act referred to as a “London PHV driver’s licence”).
(2) The licensing authority shall grant a London PHV driver’s licence to an applicant if the authority is satisfied that—
(a) the applicant has attained the age of 21, is (and has for at least three years been) authorised to drive a motor car and is a fit and proper person to hold a London PHV driver’s licence;
(aa) the applicant is not disqualified by reason of the applicant's immigration status from driving a private hire vehicle; and
(b) the requirement mentioned in subsection (3), and any further requirements prescribed by the licensing authority, are met.
(2A) In determining for the purposes of subsection (2) whether an applicant is disqualified by reason of the applicant's immigration status from driving a private hire vehicle, the licensing authority must have regard to any guidance issued by the Secretary of State.
(3) The licensing authority shall require applicants to show to the authority’s satisfaction (whether by taking a test or otherwise) that they possess a level—
(a) of knowledge of London or parts of London; and
(b) of general topographical skills,
which appears to the authority to be appropriate.
The licensing authority may impose different requirements in relation to different applicants.
(4) The licensing authority may send a copy of an application to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis or the Commissioner of Police for the City of London with a request for the Commissioner’s observations; and the Commissioner shall respond to the request.
(5) A London PHV driver’s licence—
(a) may be granted subject to such conditions as the licensing authority may think fit;
(b) shall be in such form and shall contain such particulars as the licensing authority may think fit; and
(c) subject to section 13A, shall be granted for three years or for such shorter period as the licensing authority may consider appropriate in the circumstances of the particular case.
(6) An applicant may appeal to a magistrates’ court against a decision not to grant a London PHV driver’s licence or against any condition to which such a licence is subject.
(7) For the purposes of subsection (2), a person is authorised to drive a motor car if—
(a) he holds a licence granted under Part III of the Road Traffic Act 1988 (other than a provisional licence) authorising him to drive a motor car; or
(b) he is authorised by virtue of section 99A(1) or 109(1) of that Act (Community licences and Northern Ireland licences) to drive a motor car in Great Britain.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1998/34/section/13 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/private-hire-vehicles-london-act-1998/section-13
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.