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Page last updated at 15:15 GMT, Wednesday, March 3 2010

Taxi Licensing


Each Local Authority licenses its own taxis and private hire vehicles. Therefore you will need to contact the local authority where you want to work for information regarding the application process. Please note that Eastleigh Borough Council only deals with applications to work in the borough and not in its surrounding authorities.

Contact us
The Licensing Department, Eastleigh Borough Council, Civic Offices, Leigh Road, Eastleigh, Hampshire, SO50 9YN Telephone 023 8068 8109/8349  Fax 023 8062 9277

Email : licensing@eastleigh.gov.uk

Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles
Hackney Carriages are vehicles which may be hailed in the street or may be hired at the taxi ranks, either at the town centre rank in Upper Market Street, or Eastleigh or Parkway railway stations. The vehicles, together with the drivers, must be licensed by the Council.

The number of Hackney Carriages licensed by the Council is currently 109. Private Hire Vehicles are booked in advance by telephone or other means and operated from a base instead of a rank or plying for hire. There is no limit upon the number of Private Hire Vehicles that may be licensed and as at August 2009 approximately 440 vehicles were licensed by the Council.

Vehicle, driver and operator licences are annual licences. Extensive conditions apply to all licences. All Driver licences are subject to Criminal Records Bureau and DVLA checks to assist the Council in assessing whether or not an applicant is a fit and proper person before they are licensed and must pass a stringent medical check .The applicant must provide 2 referees for references and must also sit and pass a written "Local Knowledge" test to ensure they are familiar with the geography of the Borough and the licensing conditions. After this and other checks have been carried out, the successful drivers may be licensed. At the first application, vehicles are required to obtain a certificate of compliance from the Council's Hedge End Depot.