Norwich City Council tightens taxi licensing rules with redesigned plates and new safety requirements
- Perry Richardson
- 9 hours ago
- 2 min read
Norwich City Council will bring in a wide package of taxi and private hire licensing reforms from 1 December 2025, aligning the city with national measures set out by the Department for Transport (DfT) to raise safety standards across the sector.
The changes will apply to all new and renewing licence holders and are intended to strengthen passenger protection, particularly for vulnerable adults and children.
The revised framework requires drivers to register with the Disclosure and Barring Service’s Update Service so criminal record information remains current throughout the licence period. Drivers have long been subject to DBS checks, but the new requirement means licensing officers will be able to monitor any changes to a driver’s record in real time rather than rely solely on periodic disclosures at renewal.
Medical assessments and safeguarding responsibilities will also increase. Drivers will undergo more stringent medical checks and will be required to complete safeguarding training every time they renew their licence. Council officials say the training element is designed to ensure drivers remain familiar with modern safeguarding expectations and reporting routes, an area that has been under heightened national scrutiny following several high profile reviews.
City to introduce stricter DBS, medical and safeguarding standards as updated vehicle plates and driver badges roll out from 1 December 2025
Operational standards are being tightened. Drivers will be expected to maintain vehicles to a higher standard, including compliance with a ban on vaping inside licensed vehicles. Private hire operators will have to keep a register of all staff, which brings local rules into line with the DfT’s push for clearer accountability within booking operations. Norwich will also work more closely with neighbouring authorities to manage cross border activity, an issue that has prompted concern among drivers and licensing teams across the country.
Applicants and existing licence holders are being advised to allow up to 30 working days for processing. That reflects both the expanded checks and the need for drivers to demonstrate full compliance with the new requirements before licences are granted or renewed. The same rules will apply to sublet vehicles.
Alongside the regulatory changes, Norwich City Council is introducing a new design for plates, badges and internal stickers used across the licensed fleet. The refreshed identifiers will display the vehicle registration and licence expiry date in a clearer format, and each item will carry a hologram for added security. The council said the updated designs should improve public recognition of legitimate taxis and private hire vehicles and help enforcement officers tackle non compliant operators.
The rollout will be phased, with drivers receiving the new designs as they renew their licences. Those seeking the updated plates and badges sooner can request them, though the council is not mandating immediate replacement.
Councillor Adam Giles, cabinet member for planning and regulatory services, said: “These changes are about raising standards and ensuring that everyone who uses a taxi or private hire vehicle in Norwich can feel safe and confident.
“By introducing even stricter checks and safeguarding training, alongside clearer identification through new plates and badges, we are prioritising public safety and supporting a professional, trusted service for our city. It’s part of our wider ambition to build a fairer, safer Norwich where everyone feels supported and included.”
