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Newly licensed Wigan taxi drivers must now prove English competency or pay £50 for council assessment before licence application
Wigan Council has introduced a new English-language requirement for prospective taxi and private hire drivers, with the rule taking effect on 5 October 2026.
All applicants for a new hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence must now provide evidence that they can use English at Entry Level 3 or above when submitting their application.
The council says Entry Level 3 typically requires applicants to be able to participate confidently in everyday conversations, understand more detailed instructions, read everyday material and write short messages, forms, emails and simple reports. Applicants should also be able to discuss past, present and future events using appropriate language.
Evidence accepted by the licensing authority includes GCSE English Language at Grade 2 or above, the former Grade D or above, O Level English Language at Grade D or above and ESOL Entry Level 3 or higher. Wigan says other recognised qualifications at Level 3 or above can also be accepted, provided the qualification is recognised in the UK.
Applicants unable to produce qualifying evidence must instead complete an English Language Competency Assessment before applying for their taxi or private hire driver’s licence. The assessment costs £50.
Wigan Council says the test is administered by an officer from its Adult Learning and Skills team and covers speaking and listening, reading and writing. Assessments are scheduled once a month, subject to availability, with applicants told to expect contact within two to five working days after paying to arrange an appointment.
Results are expected by email within five to 10 working days, subject to demand. Applicants who demonstrate the required competency can then upload that confirmation as evidence when making their driver licence application. Those who do not meet the standard will be advised of options available to obtain the required evidence.
The £50 assessment is separate from Wigan’s existing driver licensing charges. The council currently lists a £463 fee for a new three-year hackney carriage or private hire driver application, including the knowledge test. Subsequent knowledge tests are charged at £54.
For operators recruiting new drivers in the borough, the change adds another stage that can affect onboarding times. Candidates without readily available recognised qualifications may have to book the council assessment, complete it and wait for confirmation before a valid new driver application can be submitted.
