Notice
In October 2025 the Council decided to issue 24 additional taxi operator licences in Perth City. This decision was made following the results of a periodic survey of taxi availability in Perth City, as well as subsequent public consultation. The survey indicated that there is a significant demand for taxi services in Perth City, which is unmet. The Council has now approved an allocation scheme for the issue of these 24 additional taxi operator licences for Perth City as well as a policy of non-transferability.
Please be aware that nothing in this allocation scheme prevents a person from applying for a taxi operator licence even once the limit of 24 further licences is reached. In line with legal requirements, any such application will be considered in the normal way and referred to the Council's Licensing Committee for determination. The Licensing Committee will have regard to all relevant matters including the Unmet Demand Survey and any other evidence about demand which may be available at the time.
If you wish to apply for a taxi operator licence under the Allocation Scheme for 24 operator licences for Perth City, please review the Frequently Asked Questions and Application procedure sections below for further information and then ensure that your application form is submitted by no later than 5pm, 2 February 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the deadline by which I must apply for the licence?
Please ensure that your application form is submitted online or a hard copy delivered to the Licensing Department by no later than 5pm on Monday, 2 February 2026. On 2 February 2026 day, the telephone lines will be operating between 9am and 5pm.
Please note:In compliance with the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, payment of the application fee must be submitted for the application to be considered complete.
Who is eligible to apply for the licence?
All applicants must meet all the standard requirements for a taxi operator licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and relevant Perth and Kinross licence eligibility criteria.
Do I need to be a taxi driver before I can apply for a taxi operator licence?
No. However, if you want to drive the taxi you will need to apply for a Taxi Driver Licence if you do not already have one.
How do I apply?
Alternatively, request a paper application form from the Licensing Department (contact details at the end of this section). Procedures for paper applications are provided in the Application Procedure section below.
What vehicle will I need?
The vehicle to be operated as a taxi must be:
- Wheelchair accessible;
- No more than 12 years old; and
- Compliant with current vehicle criteria.
How will allocation of the new licences be prioritised?
There are three tiers of priority:
| First priority | Second priority (Single plate operators) | Third priority (Others) |
|---|---|---|
Applicants who do not currently hold a Perth City taxi operator licence and have no beneficial interest in any Perth City taxi operator licence (including shareholding/control/partnership) - One licence per applicant. | Should any licences remain after all eligible new entrants have been considered, applications from existing operators who hold exactly one Perth City taxi operator licence (no more than one beneficial interest in a licence)- One additional licence per applicant. | If licences are still available, applications from other eligible parties will be considered. One additional licence per applicant per round until all 24 licences are allocated. |
I need help to submit my application. What should I do?
Support will be available for those who require assistance. Please contact the Licensing Department for further information.
How will you process the applications?
Please see the Application Procedure section below for full details.
Should I buy the vehicle now or can I apply before I do that?
If your application is successful, you will be provided a grace period to secure a suitable vehicle and complete any outstanding requirements. If you are unable to meet these requirements within the grace period, the application will be treated as withdrawn and the opportunity will be offered to the next applicant.
If I am successful in being granted a licence, can I transfer it to someone else?
In compliance with the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, there is no provision for transferring a taxi operator licence to another licence holder, except in the event of death of a licence holder. The Policy on Non-Transferability of New Taxi Operator Licences will apply to all 24 additional licences in perpetuity.
Can I substitute the vehicle attached to the licence?
Once granted standard substitution rules apply in relation to the vehicle subject to the requirement that substitutions must be a WAV. The Policy on Non-Transferability of New Taxi Operator Licences also will apply.
What happens once all 24 new licences are allocated?
Once all 24 licences have been allocated, a waiting list will be established and maintained in order of date and time the application first was received. This list will be used to reallocate licences that are surrendered or revoked, ensuring continuity and fairness.
Nothing in this allocation scheme prevents a person from applying for a taxi operator licence even once the limit of 24 further licences is reached. In line with legal requirements, any such application will be considered in the normal way and referred to the Council's Licensing Committee for determination. The Licensing Committee will have regard to all relevant matters including the Unmet Demand Survey and any other evidence about demand which may be available at the time.
If I cannot meet the requirements for holding a licence will the application fee be refunded?
No. All applicants must meet all the standard requirements for a taxi operator licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and relevant Perth and Kinross licence eligibility criteria. If you do not meet these requirements, you will not receive a refund of your application fee.
If I cannot meet the requirements for the vehicle to be operated will the application fee be refunded?
No. The vehicle to be operated as a taxi must be:
- Wheelchair accessible;
- No more than 12 years old; and
- Compliant with current vehicle criteria.
What happens if I am not allocated a licence?
Once all 24 licences have been granted, if you are not allocated a licence under the allocation scheme, we will ask if you wish for your name to be added to the waiting list.
In addition, nothing in this allocation scheme prevents a person from applying for a taxi operator licence even once the limit of 24 further licences is reached. In line with legal requirements, any such application will be considered in the normal way and referred to the Council's Licensing Committee for determination. The Licensing Committee will have regard to all relevant matters including the Unmet Demand Survey and any other evidence about demand which may be available at the time.
Will I be refunded my application fee if I am not allocated a licence?
You will be refunded the application fee, less a one-off administrative fee of £20. If you are allocated a licence at a later date, you will be required to submit the full licence application fee alongside a new application.
What happens if a licence becomes available at a later date and I am on the waiting list?
We will contact you to advise that a licence has become available and you are next on the allocation waiting list. At that time, you will be required to submit a new application and pay the related application fee. All the standard requirements as set out above, as well as the vehicle requirements, will apply.
Will you review the waiting list?
Yes, it will be reviewed.
Can I apply for a licence once the deadline has passed?
Nothing in this allocation scheme prevents a person from applying for a taxi operator licence even once the limit of 24 further licences is reached or the deadline has passed. In line with legal requirements, any such application will be considered in the normal way and referred to the Council's Licensing Committee for determination. The Licensing Committee will have regard to all relevant matters including the Unmet Demand Survey and any other evidence about demand which may be available at the time.
What if I am currently in a partnership, but want to have a licence of my own? Can I apply?
You can submit your application and advise us of which priority you believe will apply to you. However, you will be responsible for taking your own advice about any current licences that you may have an interest in. If you are allocated a licence for the relevant priority you believe will apply to you, you will need to submit evidence that you meet that criteria before the licence can be granted. That evidence must be submitted within a specified period of being advised that your application is successful.
How do I find out about the status of my application or the allocation scheme?
Please do not contact the Licensing Department to ask about the progress of your application. We will provide you with an update as soon as possible.
How do I contact the Licensing Department?
You can contact us by:
- Telephone: 01738 475180 between 9am and 1pm weekdays
- E-mail: civiclicensing@pkc.gov.uk
- Post: Corporate and Democratic Services - Legal and Governance Services, Perth and Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH
Application procedure
Application deadline
Please ensure that your application form is submitted online or a hard copy delivered to the Licensing Department by no later than 5pm, 2 February 2026.
Support will be available for those who require assistance. Please contact the Licensing Department for further information.
- Telephone: 01738 475180 between 9am and 1pm weekdays
- E-mail: civiclicensing@pkc.gov.uk
- Post: Corporate and Democratic Services - Legal and Governance Services, Perth and Kinross Council, 2 High Street, Perth, PH1 5PH
Please do not contact the Licensing Department to ask about the progress of your application. We will provide you with an update as soon as possible.
Acknowledgement
Whether your application is submitted online or by paper (by post or in person), you will receive an acknowledgement from the Licensing Department by email. If you do not receive this email within three business days, it is your responsibility to contact us right away.
Form of application
Online applications
Online applications are the preferred and most reliable way to submit your application to ensure that your application and accompanying payment is recorded in order of priority.
Paper applications
These applications must be submitted:
- In person. You must make an appointment with the Licensing Department and attend at 2 High Street to submit your application to a member of the team. We will call you as soon as possible by telephone to take payment by card.
- By post. We do not recommend that you submit applications by post because the applications are time sensitive. If you choose to send your application by Royal Mail your application will not be treated as received until the application is received and payment is made.
Fee payment
In compliance with the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982, payment of the application fee must be submitted for the application to be considered complete and therefore must be submitted before the deadline.
Eligibility - Person
All applicants must meet all the standard requirements for a taxi operator licence under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and relevant Perth and Kinross licence eligibility criteria.
Eligibility - Vehicle
The vehicle to be operated as a taxi must be:
- Wheelchair accessible;
- No more than 12 years old; and
- Compliant with current vehicle criteria available on our website at Conditions of Taxi and Private Hire Car Operators (PDF, 59 KB)
Allocation process
- Once an application is submitted and the application fee paid, the time and date of the fee payment will be recorded.
- Incomplete applications or those without the requisite fee will be considered invalid and will not be processed and the applicant will be advised as such.
- Ahead of the deadline for an application to be submitted, those applications meeting Priority 1 criteria will be processed in strict date/time order.
- When the deadline for application has passed, if any of the 24 additional licences have not been allocated, all eligible applications will be processed in strict date/time order in line with the prioritisation criteria until all 24 additional licences have been allocated.
- Prioritisation follows the following criteria:
| First priority | Second priority (Single plate operators) | Third priority (Others) |
|---|---|---|
Applicants who do not currently hold a Perth City taxi operator licence and have no beneficial interest in any Perth City taxi operator licence (including shareholding/control/partnership) - One licence per applicant. | Should any licences remain after all eligible new entrants have been considered, applications from existing operators who hold exactly one Perth City taxi operator licence (no more than one beneficial interest in a licence)- One additional licence per applicant. | If licences are still available, applications from other eligible parties will be considered. One additional licence per applicant per round until all 24 licences are allocated. |
Applications allocated a licence - Next steps
- If your application is eligible for consideration for one of the 24 additional licences, we will contact you and advise of next steps. This does not mean that your licence will be granted. It means that your application will be processed and considered.
- If you are unable to meet the eligibility criteria or respond to requests for further information which is required to process your application, within a specified period (a minimum of four weeks), your application may be considered invalid under the allocation scheme and the next application on the waiting list will be offered the allocation.
- Please be aware that nothing in this allocation scheme prevents a person from applying for a taxi operator licence even once the limit of 24 further licences is reached. In line with legal requirements, any such application will be considered in the normal way and referred to the Council's Licensing Committee for determination. The Licensing Committee will have regard to all relevant matters including the Unmet Demand Survey and any other evidence about demand which may be available at the time.
- Some applicants may be required to attend at a Licensing Committee for their application to be considered. This will be in line with current application procedures for all licences.
- If you do not yet have the vehicle you intend to licence, you will be provided with a grace period to secure a vehicle that meets all the requirements.
- To ensure that the vehicle meets the Council's licence conditions you may need to present the vehicle to Licensing Enforcement Officers before the licence will be granted. It is your responsibility to advise as soon as possible that you have the vehicle available for inspection. The vehicle will be inspected at 2 High Street, Perth or a mutually-agreed upon location to ensure all requirements are met.
Applications not allocated a licence - Next steps
- Once all 24 licences have been granted, if you are not allocated a licence under the allocation scheme, we will ask if you wish for your name to be added to the waiting list. However, you should be aware that nothing in this allocation scheme prevents a person from asking for their application to be considered in the normal way rather than under this allocation scheme. These applications will be referred to the Council's Licensing Committee for determination. The Licensing Committee will have regard to all relevant matters including the Unmet Demand Survey and any other evidence about demand which may be available at the time.
- The waiting list will be established and maintained in strict date/time order. Your application fee will be refunded, less a £20 administrative fee.
- If a licence becomes available and you are next on the waiting list:
- We will contact you. See steps above under 'Applications allocated a licence', which will apply here.
- You will be asked to submit a new licence application along with the application fee.
What is a taxi?
A taxi is a vehicle licensed for carrying passengers. The driver of a taxi can pick passengers up from the streets and can ply for hire in a public place. A taxi must have an illuminated roof sign bearing the word "taxi" and be fitted with a taximeter.
What is a private hire car?
A private hire vehicle is also licensed for carrying passengers. However, all fares must be pre-booked. It is different from a taxi in that a private hire car driver cannot pick passengers up from the streets or ply for hire in public places. A private hire operator operating within Perth City Centre must be fitted with a taximeter.
Read more on the differences between a taxi and a private hire vehicle (PDF, 82 KB) and view our scale of taxi fares.
How many passengers can I carry?
A taxi or private hire car can be licensed to carry up to 8 passengers.
Can an operator also drive their taxi or private hire car?
A taxi or private hire operator who wishes to drive their vehicle also needs a licence to act as a taxi/private hire car driver. View the guidance information on taxi drivers (PDF, 182 KB) for more information.
A taxi/private hire car operator licence is not needed for:
- vehicles while being used in connection with a funeral or a wedding
- vehicles while being used for carrying passengers under a contract for its exclusive hire for a period of not less than 24 hours, such as an extended touring holiday when a hired car with a driver are available to a holidaymaker throughout a holiday period
Are there any restrictions on the vehicles that can be used as taxi or private hire cars?
A taxi or private hire vehicle must be no more than ten years old from the date of first registration. After that the vehicle must be replaced.
Are taxi and private hire cars examined?
Yes, taxi and private hire cars have to undergo and pass an annual inspection carried out by or on behalf of the Council.
Why do I need a licence?
The licensing system is there to ensure public safety. Every person who applies for a licence is assessed to see if they are "fit and proper" to have a licence.
How do I apply?
If you have difficulty applying online, please contact the Licensing Team on 01738 475180 between 9am and 1pm on weekdays.
Application for substitution of vehicle for a taxi/private hire operator licence
Download and complete the application to substitute a vehicle or amend a registration number (PDF, 344 KB).
How much does a licence cost?
The application fees for a Taxi Operator Licence are:
- £74 for a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)
- £144 for Ultra Low Hybrid, electric and fuel (ULH)
- £297 for a car
The application fees for a Private Hire Operator Licence are:
- £63 for a Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV)
- £122 for Ultra Low Hybrid, electric and fuel (ULH)
- £250 for a car
The fees change every year so check with the Licensing Team before you send payment.
What happens if the Council fails to make a decision on my application within 9 months?
The licence will be granted or renewed.
What can I do if my application is refused or suspended?
Within 28 days of the date of the decision to refuse an application, the applicant may require the licence authority to give the reasons for their decision.
The applicant may appeal to the Sheriff against the decision, within 28 days of the decision, as long as they have already followed any available procedure in terms of stating their case to the local authority.
The appeal will only be successful if the Sheriff considers that the local authority, in making their decision, had:
- erred in law
- based their decision on an incorrect material fact
- acted contrary to natural justice
- exercised their discretion in an unreasonable manner
The applicant may then appeal on a point of law from the Sheriff's decision to the Court of Session within 28 days from the date of the Sheriff's decision.
Can I lodge an objection or representation to a licence?
Yes, objections or representations relating to a licence application may be made in writing to the local authority, within 21 days of notice of the licence application being given, stating:
- the grounds of the objection or nature of the representation
- the name and address of the person making the representation
A Chief Constable, or anyone who has made a relevant objection or representation regarding the licence, may appeal against a decision within 28 days of being notified, as long as they have already followed any available procedure in terms of stating their case to the local authority.
The appeal will only be successful if the Sheriff considers that the local authority, in making their decision, had:
- erred in law
- based their decision on an incorrect material fact
- acted contrary to natural justice
- exercised their discretion in an unreasonable manner
What happens if I need to make changes to my licence?
Download and complete the change in circumstances application form (PDF, 278 KB).
How much does it cost to make a material change of circumstance to my licence?
The application fee for a material change of circumstance is £74.
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