Hackney carriage licences

Information on hackney carriage licences

Hackney carriages, often referred to as taxis, may be hired as follows:

  • hailed in the street
  • from a taxi rank
  • by pre-booking

The maximum fares for journeys within the borough are regulated by the borough council. They can only ever be driven by the holder of a hackney carriage driver's licence from the Eastleigh Borough council, whether or not the vehicles are available for hire.

The licence conditions require that hackney carriages have either an integral "taxi" roof sign (purpose built vehicles) or an approved  "taxi" roof sign. The Sign must be illuminated when plying for hire and unlit when hired. The vehicle also has an orange licence plate on the rear of the vehicle, the details of which are reproduced on a sticker in the windscreen.

Before a Hackney Carriage vehicle licence is granted, renewed, or transferred, an application must be completed and submitted to us.

No diesel vehicle with an emissions standard of level 5 (euro 5) or lower shall be granted a licence other than by way of licence renewal. 

Apply to renew a hackney carriage licence

Before you fill in this form

You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself at least five minutes to fill in the form.

You will need to produce the following for examination at the time of application :

  • Vehicle registration document or bill of sale (Log book to be produced when in possession)
  • Current vehicle insurance certificate that shows cover for "public hire and reward" with named driver on the certificate
  • Mechanical inspection form completed by the workshop at Hedge End Depot for NEW vehicle licence applications (dated within the last 30 days of this application), or by an approved testing station for RENEWAL applications (dated no more than 30 days prior to the expiry of the licence). WE DO NOT REQUIRE the vehicle to undergo a DVSA “MOT” test at the same time as this test. This may be required six months before the expiry of the licence.
  • A meter certificate
  • Copy of the certificate of a standard Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for each person named on the licence. This must be less than six months old at the time of application. If you do not hold a hackney carriage and/or private hire drivers licence with Eastleigh Borough Council at the time of applying to licence your private hire vehicle, you must provide the Council with a basic DBS certificate no more than 6 months from the date of issue. If you are applying as a registered company, all officers of said company must provide a basic DBS certificate.

NOTE: Applicants should allow at least 5 working days for the Council to process an application. 

Apply to Renew a Hackney Carriage Licence

An Eastleigh licensed hackney carriage may never be driven by anyone who does not hold an Eastleigh hackney carriage driver's licence, whether or not the vehicle is being used for a licensable activity. The hackney carriage plate may only be removed from the vehicle by an authorised officer.

The forms for a change of vehicle on an existing licence, transfer of licence and for notification of the change of address of an existing licence holder, together with the policy and conditions for such licences can be found below. You are strongly advised to seek the advice of the licensing team before purchasing any vehicle to be licensed for hackney carriage. Please note that as a matter of law, licences are granted for a period of up to 12 months.

Application to transfer a hackney carriage licence

For any transfer of a hackney carriage, please make an appointment to complete the form. All parties must attend and sign the form in front of an officer. Photo I.D will be required. Please note that for any person named on the new licence, a DBS disclosure is required, at least a basic disclosure and less than 6 months old. 

Forms & Guidance

Licensing Team

Members of the licensing team are normally available at Eastleigh House on Monday, Wednesday & Friday each week between 09:00 and 14:00. To submit any applications an appointment must be made before attending the office.