The Group 2 medical for taxi and private hire drivers

Section 57 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 lets a council ask for a medical certificate. It must be signed by a registered medical practitioner and say that you are physically fit to be a driver. It can also require you to be examined by a registered medical practitioner it chooses, whether or not you have already provided a certificate.

Source: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, section 57 (Power to require applicants to submit information) (opens in a new tab) (legislation.gov.uk, Section 57(2)(a))[1]

Department for Transport guidance says it is appropriate for taxi and private hire drivers to meet stricter medical standards than ordinary car drivers because:

• they carry members of the public, who expect a safe journey
• they are on the road for longer hours than most car drivers
• they may have to help disabled passengers and handle luggage

Source: Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing: best practice guidance for licensing authorities in England (opens in a new tab) (Department for Transport, 6.6 Medical and vision assessment)[2]

The guidance says councils should apply the Group 2 medical standard required for lorry (category C) and bus (category D) licences, and should seek the same information DVLA requires for those licences. It suggests using DVLA's medical examination report, the D4 form, as the template. Wolverhampton, for example, requires all applicants to provide a completed medical certificate, including the D4 form, certifying them to Group 2 standards.

For lorry and bus licences the medical is done by a registered medical practitioner, who does not have to be your GP. DVLA recommends, although it does not require, a doctor who can see your full medical records. Check which doctors your council accepts before you book.

Sources: Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing: best practice guidance for licensing authorities in England (opens in a new tab) (Department for Transport, 6.6 Medical and vision assessment)[2]; Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy (12.06.2026), including licence conditions, Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety, fees and Taxi CCTV Policy (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Licensing Policy, 3. Medical Certification (page 3))[3]

The guidance is clear that the council assesses the medical information and decides whether to issue a licence. That is not the job of the doctor who provides the information. Where it needs more information, it should write to your GP or consultant, as DVLA does.

Source: Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing: best practice guidance for licensing authorities in England (opens in a new tab) (Department for Transport, 6.6 Medical and vision assessment)[2]

Councils set their own timetable, so check your council's policy. For comparison, the guidance explains how DVLA handles lorry and bus licences. Until 45, drivers make a medical declaration at each five-yearly renewal. From 45 they need an assessment every five years, and from 65 every year.

The guidance also says there should be no maximum age limit for drivers. Instead, medical fitness should be assessed regularly.

Source: Taxi and private hire vehicle licensing: best practice guidance for licensing authorities in England (opens in a new tab) (Department for Transport, 6.6 Medical and vision assessment; 6.8 Age limits)[2]

Wolverhampton's conditions cover this. If you develop a condition that must be reported to DVLA, or you no longer meet the Group 2 standard, you must stop driving immediately and tell the licensing authority. Its policy says an applicant who fails the medical standard will normally be refused. A new licence will not normally be granted for one year after the medical, or for any period an approved doctor advises.

Source: Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing Policy (12.06.2026), including licence conditions, Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety, fees and Taxi CCTV Policy (opens in a new tab) (City of Wolverhampton Council, Private Hire Driver Licence Conditions, Notification of Information to the Licensing Authority, point 3 (page 51); Guidelines on Fitness and Propriety, 5.1.21)[3]