Taxi and Private Hire Driving Assessment

It is becoming common practice for Councils to insist that licence applicants must undergo a vocational driving assessment before they can grant an individual a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle driver's licence.

The approved assessments for this Authority are provided by the:

·       The Blue Lamp Trust

·       The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP)

The assessment will be at your own expense. Before the assessment, you are strongly advised to:

·       take lessons with a professional driving instructor.

·       read the Highway Code.

·       familiarise yourself with the content of the assessment.

The Blue Lamp Trust

All driver assessment bookings with the Blue Lamp Trust should be made online using the link here:

https://bluelamptrust.org.uk/taxiassesments/

For enquiries applicants should call the Blue Lamp Trust office on 0333 700 0157, Monday to Friday 09:30 - 15:00.

The Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership (LRSP)

Drivers will be required to successfully undergo the taxi and private hire saloon vehicles assessment and be judged as a 'low risk' driver. At the time of drafting this webpage the LRSP assessment cost was £120.00.

The quickest and easiest way to book the LRSP test is online at:

www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/lincolnshire-road-safety-partnership/book-road-safety-course/4

Alternatively, there is a telephone number of 01522 212313 (and an email address: drivertraining@Iincolnshire.gov.uk).

There will be two venues for the test - Lincoln or Boston. Detailed joining instructions and information will be issued to you by the LRSP.

When attending the LRSP assessment you should take one of the following with you:

·       a full UK or Northern Ireland driving licence.

·       a full British old style paper licence and current passport.

·       a recognisable full European Union (EU) licence and UK paper counterpart with a current passport if your EU licence does not have a photograph.

Existing Licensed Drivers with this Authority

The Council will normally only require any existing hackney carriage or private hire vehicle drivers, licensed with this Authority, to undergo the driver assessment, where there are serious concerns as to the fitness of a driver to hold a licence due to driving problems.

Wheelchair Assessment

At present there is no specific requirement for drivers to undergo a wheelchair passenger assessment prior to gaining a licence with this Authority. However, at a later date the Council will be looking at requiring all drivers (both new and existing) to successfully undergo a wheelchair-loading assessment before driving a wheelchair accessible taxi or private hire vehicle. However, if you have access to a wheelchair accessible vehicle you may wish to undergo wheelchair loading training now rather than waiting until a later date.