Three years
Three years is the most the law allows for a London taxi driver licence, and TfL issues no shorter or probationary licences, unless your right to work in the UK ends sooner.
Renewing
TfL sends a renewal pack four months before your licence ends, and you can apply from then. You send:
- the renewal form and a photo;
- evidence of your DBS Update Service subscription and your right to work;
- a copy of your driving licence and a DVLA share code;
- an HMRC tax check code, no more than 120 days old;
- the Living Abroad form, if it applies, and the fee.
If your licence ends on or after 1 October 2025, you also need a pass in the SERU assessment. You never take the Knowledge again.
Renewing late
Send a complete renewal before your licence ends and you can keep working while TfL decides. Once it has ended you must stop at once: working on an expired licence is an offence and may void your insurance. More than three months late, you are treated as a new applicant.
Sources
- TfL, Taxi and private hire driver policy, version 6.0, 1 September 2026, sections 2.1, 4.25 and 4.26
- TfL, Apply for a taxi driver licence, Renewing your licence
From the guide: How to become a London taxi driver