I already drive for Uber in Bristol. Can I just add Zippe to my existing setup?

Yes, straightforwardly. Your Bristol City Council private hire driver’s and vehicle licences already cover you to work for any licensed private hire operator — you don’t need a new licence to add Zippe. Download the Zippe Driver app, upload your existing licence documents, and you’re typically approved within 48 hours. You can then run both platforms simultaneously.

Does it matter what car I drive?

It matters to Bristol City Council’s licensing team more than it matters to Zippe. The council requires your vehicle to be under 10 years old, pass their vehicle inspection, and meet their private hire vehicle standards. Within those parameters, Zippe accepts saloons, estates, MPVs, hybrids, electric vehicles, and wheelchair accessible vehicles.

Can I work in Bath with a Bristol City Council licence?

A Bristol City Council private hire licence authorises you to accept pre-booked trips through a Bristol-licensed operator. Trips that begin in Bristol and end in Bath are generally fine. Basing yourself primarily in Bath and accepting trips originating there is a more complex question — the rules on cross-boundary PHV operation are nuanced and worth confirming directly with Bristol City Council.

What’s the DVLA check code and do I actually need it?

Yes. Bristol City Council requires a DVLA licence check code as part of your application — it allows them to view your driving record online without you posting your physical licence. Generate it through the DVLA’s 'Share Driving Licence' service on gov.uk. Note that each code expires after 21 days.

Is there a knowledge test for private hire drivers in Bristol?

No. Bristol City Council does not require a topographical knowledge test for private hire licence applicants. (The knowledge test applies to hackney carriage — black cab — licences only.)

I have a Bristol licence. Can I drive in Bath?

A Bristol City Council licence allows you to pick up pre-booked passengers through a Bristol-licensed operator. If you plan to base yourself primarily in Bath, you should contact the B&NES licensing team to ensure you are compliant with their specific cross-boundary rules. Often, if Bath is your main area, a B&NES licence is the safer, more professional route.

B&NES has specific vehicle standards regarding age and condition. Always check the B&NES council website before purchasing a vehicle for work. Hybrids and EVs are increasingly popular in Bath—they are cheaper to run in stop-start city traffic and are a big hit with eco-conscious tourists.

Home-2-School service you can rely on

Contact us to learn more

✓ Approved Provider: 23 Local Authorities ✓ Vetted & DBS Checked

A trusted partner for every school morning.

When you book a school run, you need more than just a driver—you need a partner who understands the local area and the importance of reliability. Unlike generic platforms, Zippe is an approved provider for 23 local authorities, setting a new standard for reliable city travel.

Zippe is a local authority-approved transport provider delivering safe, on-time, door-to-door home-to-school journeys with vetted drivers, real-time tracking and a child-first standard of care.

Comfortable and safe rides

Licensed, well-maintained vehicles and child safety features come as standard.

Punctual, every time

Local routing intelligence means we beat the traffic and arrive on time, every time.

Vetted, trained Drivers

Every driver passes enhanced DBS checks and specialized child-safeguarding training.

Familiar faces

We pair families with the same regular driver to build comfort and long-term trust.

Safety First

Built around the most precious cargo of all.

Every safeguard, checkpoint, and protocol exists to ensure your child arrives safely and comfortably.

Enhanced DBS checks

GPS-monitored journeys

Safeguarding training

Booster seats provided

Child-locked vehicles

Dedicated parent line

Drive With Us

Home-2-School transport driver jobs that actually mean something.

Join a team of professional, community-focused drivers making a real difference. We're hiring across the UK with steady hours and fair pay.

School-hours

Work mornings & afternoons — keep your day.

Vehicle support

Fleet options or use your own vehicle.

Meaningful work

Help local families, every single day.

Full training

Safeguarding & SEN training included.

Ready to start driving?

Join the movement to fix a broken industry. Download the Zippe Driver app to start earning with a platform that prioritises people over platforms and keeps profits within our local community.

Download the Zippe Driver App

We’re expanding, community by community

At Zippe, we’re committed to bringing safe, reliable, and community-focused transportation to towns and cities across the UK.

We proudly operate within Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset, Somerset, City of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, Liverpool, Cardiff, Wiltshire and Swindon, transporting passengers across multiple regions

          East
          
Coming soon!

          North West
          
Liverpool (H2S only)

          Wales
          
Cardiff (Excl. H2S)

          East Midlands
          
Coming soon!

          South East
          
Southampton (H2S only)

          West Midlands
          
Herefordshire (H2S only)

          North East
          
Coming soon!

          South West
          
            Bath & NE Somerset
            Bristol
            Bournemouth / Poole
            North Somerset
            South Glos
            Gloucester (H2S)
            Somerset (H2S)
            Swindon / Wiltshire
          
          Yorkshire
          
Coming soon!

Logos of various UK city and county councils including Liverpool City Council, Southampton City Council, Bristol City Council, Bath & North East Somerset Council, Swindon Borough Council, Herefordshire Council, South Gloucestershire Council, Somerset Council, North Somerset Council, Wiltshire Council, and Gloucestershire County Council.

Not in your area yet?

Two children sitting in the back seat of a car, wearing blue school uniforms, with a young girl in the foreground looking at the camera and a boy smiling in the background.

Let us know and we can work towards bringing Zippe to your local community.