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Taxi and private hire booking office licence

A booking office licence is required for the use of premises for the carrying on of a business which consists to any extent of the taking of bookings, by any means of communication, from members of the public for the hire of a taxi or public hire car.

It is a criminal offence to operate a taxi or private hire booking office business for premises in Scotland without a booking office licence.

Tax checks and your tax obligations

From 2nd October 2023 you need to complete a tax check with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) when applying to renew your licence.

Find out more about the tax checks and when they are required.

If you are not required to complete a tax check, on the application form we will ask you to confirm you are aware of the HMRC guidance. Find out more about confirming you understand your tax responsibilities.  

Exemptions

No licence is required where the number of taxis or public hire cars in respect of which bookings are taken does not at any time exceed 3.

Site notice and certificate of compliance

At the same time as lodging your application for a licence, you must display the appropriate site notice (PDF 85KB), at the location from which your business is to operate, for a period of 28 days.

Once the site notice has been displayed at the premises for 28 days, please complete and submit the certificate of compliance (PDF 69KB) to the address given on the bottom of the form.

Application fees

The application fee for both the grant and renewal of a booking office licence is £177. The fee is not refundable if the application is refused, cannot be processed in time, or if you decide to withdraw your application after it has been lodged and processed.

You can pay by either:

Unfortunately we are unable to accept payment by BACs, cheques or cash.

How to apply

To apply, complete the booking office licence application form (PDF 246KB).

Please send your competed form by email to licapps@aberdeenshire.gov.uk or by post to, please note physical mail is only checked once a week:

Aberdeenshire Council
Legal and People
Viewmount
Arduthie Road
Stonehaven
AB39 2DQ

If you are unable to complete the forms, please call us and we will assist you to apply over the telephone.

You must also submit the following documents with your completed application form:

  • A layout plan of the premises
  • Evidence of third party liability insurance documents
  • A copy of your policy for dealing with complaints from members of the public

You also need to provide evidence that you have the right to work in UK. Read about the immigration status checks in our guidance document. 

Application process

We will give a copy of your application to the Chief Constable, the Firemaster, Planning Services, Building Standards, the Environmental Health Service and the local Roads Manager. They must submit their views to us within 28 days. They can also submit comments which include recommendations for additional conditions to be attached to the licence by us.

Members of the public may object or make representations within 28 days of display of the site notice at the premises.

Where no objections, representations, or notices are received from the Police, Firemaster, Planning Services, Building Standards, the Environmental Health Service, the Local Roads Manager or any other party, the application will be granted by the Senior Solicitor (Governance) under delegated authority and the licence will be issued.

Duration of the licence

Booking office licences will normally be granted for 3 years.

Additional information

For further information: