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.

Person driving a car with text overlay saying "Ride locally, with local in mind."

Zippe’s Privacy Policy

At Zippe, we believe that "people over platforms" starts with how we handle your personal information. Your data is more than just a file—it’s a digital representation of the trust you place in us to move your community forward.

Whether you are one of our 1,780+ dedicated Drivers or a parent relying on us for a vital Home-2-School journey, protecting your personal information is a non-negotiable part of our mission to fix a broken industry. We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and protecting your personal information across our website, mobile applications, and all the services we offer.

If you need any support or have questions for us, then use the chat function on our website and we’d be happy to help!

This policy governs every interaction you have with the Zippe ecosystem. Whether you are browsing our website for information on getting around, using the Zippe Driver App to manage your runs, or booking a ride through our passenger application, your data is handled with the same high standard of care.

This applies to all our specialised services, including our Home-2-School transport and corporate accounts.

Zippe is a limited company registered in the United Kingdom under company number 10553032. This policy applies to all websites, apps, and services operated by Zippe.
We may collect and process the following personal data:
- Identity Data: Your first and last name, and in some cases, your date of birth.
- Contact Data: Email address, phone number, and mailing address.
- Payment Data: Financial details (e.g., card details for payments) via third-party processors like Stripe.
- Marketing Data: Your preferences for receiving communications and promotional material.
- Technical Data: IP address, browser type, time zone, and device information collected via cookies and similar technologies.
- Usage Data: Information about your interactions with our website, app, or services.
- Transportation Data: For app users, we collect pick-up and drop-off location data and journey history.
We use your personal data to:
- Provide, improve, and personalise our services.
- Enable you to use our app and book transportation.
- Process payments and deliver receipts.
- Ensure safety by vetting drivers and monitoring rides.
- Communicate with you regarding your account or service updates.
- Send promotional offers and updates (where consented).
- Analyse website and app usage to improve functionality.
Under data protection laws, you have the following rights:
- Access: Request a copy of your personal data.
- Rectification: Request corrections to inaccurate data.
- Erasure: Ask us to delete your personal data.
- Restriction: Limit how your data is used temporarily.
- Portability: Transfer your data to another provider.
- Objection: Object to the processing of your data.
- Automated Decisions: Know if we use technology to make decisions about you and request human review if applicable.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at hello@zippe.co.uk.
We use cookies and similar technologies to:
- Support necessary website and app functionality.
- Collect analytics on how users interact with our platforms.
- Tailor advertising and improve user experience.
For app users, we may also use device location to enhance safety, optimise routes, and monitor services. Consent for these features will be requested through app permissions.
Tools we use in our cookies include:
We use industry-standard measures to secure your data, including encryption and secure server hosting. However, no method of transmission over the internet is completely secure, so we cannot guarantee absolute security.
This privacy policy may be updated to reflect changes in services, legal requirements, or security protocols. Check our website periodically for updates.
For questions or concerns regarding this policy, contact us at hello@zippe.co.uk.

Zippe’s Privacy Policy

Services

Legal

Zippe’s Privacy Policy

‍Who are we?

‍Personal data we collect about you

How Your Data is Used

Your Rights

Cookies and App Tracking

Security Measures

Changes to This Policy

Contact Information

Services

Legal