What is a PHV licence in Scotland?

PHV stands for private hire vehicle: a car with a driver that people book in advance, as opposed to a taxi you can flag down. In Scotland a "PHV licence" usually means the private hire car driver's licence your council gives you, or the licence for the car itself. It isn't the London PHV licence that Transport for London issues, which is a different licence under a different law.

Written by Ajay Singh, a private hire driver licensed by Renfrewshire Council since January 2025 · updated 10 November 2026 · sources linked at the bottom

The short version

The two Scottish licences

The driver's licence (your badge). Section 13 of the 1982 Act says you need a "private hire car driver's licence" to drive a private hire car, or a taxi driver's licence, which also lets you drive a private hire car. The same section says a council can't grant one unless you've held a full driving licence for the 12 months before you apply.

The car licence. Section 10 says a "private hire car licence" is needed to operate a vehicle as a private hire car. The car has its own licence, plates and inspections, separate from yours.

Each council sets its own fees, conditions and paperwork, which is why renewing in Glasgow looks nothing like renewing in Edinburgh. The fees by council page compares them, and there are renewal guides for Glasgow, Edinburgh, Renfrewshire and Dundee.

Private hire car or taxi?

The 1982 Act draws the line by how the journey is arranged. Section 23 defines a taxi as a hire car engaged in a public place, between the passenger and the driver, for a journey starting there and then. A private hire car is any other hire car. In practice that means it's booked in advance and can't pick up people who flag it down.

Why London's "PHV licence" is different

The term "PHV licence" comes from London's law, which is why so much of what you read about it is London guidance. There, the Private Hire Vehicles (London) Act 1998 is the law, the licence is called a "London PHV driver's licence", and the licensing authority is Transport for London.

None of that applies to a driver licensed in Scotland. The application, the fees, the training and the medical rules all come from your own council, so ignore TfL's guidance unless you're working in London.

Questions people ask

What does PHV mean?

Private hire vehicle: a car with a driver that passengers book in advance, rather than a taxi you can hail. It's the term London's law uses. Scottish law calls the same thing a private hire car.

What is a PHV licence in Scotland?

In Scotland there are two: a private hire car driver's licence for you, often called a badge, and a private hire car licence for the car. Both come from your local council under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982.

Who issues a PHV licence in Scotland?

Your council. The Act makes each local authority the licensing authority for its own area, so Glasgow, Edinburgh, Renfrewshire and every other council licenses its own drivers and cars.

Is a Scottish PHV licence the same as a TfL PHV licence?

No. A London PHV driver's licence comes from Transport for London under a different Act, and it's for London. A Scottish private hire licence comes from your council under the 1982 Act. Each is a separate licence from a separate authority.

Sources