What TfL looks at
TfL sees your enhanced DBS check and weighs every conviction, caution, discharge and community resolution on it. Spent convictions count too: taxi driving is one of the jobs the law lets a licensing authority ask about in full.
How long you wait
TfL's driver policy sets a usual waiting period for each kind of offence, counted from the end of the sentence. Some examples:
| Offence | Usual outcome |
|---|---|
| Murder, manslaughter, rape, terrorism, sexual offences against children | Normally refused |
| Grievous bodily harm, robbery, arson, drug supply | 10 years |
| Theft, fraud, carrying an offensive weapon, more than one drug possession | 7 years |
| Possession of drugs, once | 5 years |
| Common assault, actual bodily harm, harassment | 3 years |
| Touting or plying for hire illegally | 1 year |
More than one conviction for violence or for a sexual offence, or more than one for dishonesty in ten years, normally means refusal, and anyone on a barred list or the sex offenders register is not licensed. You are not licensed while serving a sentence, including a suspended one.
On its merits
TfL says its list is not exhaustive and that each case is judged on its merits. If you are unsure, read the policy's section 3.5 before you apply, since the application fee is not refundable.
Sources
- TfL, Taxi and private hire driver policy, version 6.0, 1 September 2026, sections 3.4 and 3.5, Appendix B
- TfL, Apply for a taxi driver licence, Convictions and exemptions
From the guide: How to become a London taxi driver