Hackney Carriage Driver Licensing

What is a Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence?
Any person who drives a licensed hackney carriage, in any circumstances, must holder a licence to do so from the city council. Hackney carriages, often referred to as taxis, may be hailed in the street, may stand and ply for hire in the street or can be pre-booked. Their maximum fares for journeys within the city are regulated by the city council. Southampton's licence conditions require such vehicles to be predominantly white in colour. They can only be driven by the holder of a hackney carriage driver's licence.

How do I apply for a licence?
An application form and a medical assessment form can be found in the related documents links on the right of this page. Forms must be submitted in person at the licensing office.

Before your application can be processed, you will be required to complete forms for a the disclosure of any criminal record and a check of your driving history with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Both forms need to be completed at the licensing office at Southbrook Rise, 4-8 Millbrook Road East Southampton SO15 1YG. In order to undertake this part of the process you must be able to conclusively prove your identity to our satisfaction.

Criminal Records
The Licensing Team has a responsibility to ensure that licensed drivers are fit and proper persons to hold such licences, given the circumstances of their employment. In order to assist in making such decisions, a check is made with the Criminal Records Bureau before a licence application is determined, and thereafter on a three-yearly basis.

From October 2009, anyone working with children and vulnerable adults will be required by law to be registered with The Independent Safeguarding Authority. Only those who are judged not to pose a risk to vulnerable people can be ISA-registered. Once the scheme has been fully rolled out, employers who work with vulnerable people will only be allowed to recruit those who are ISA-registered. Further details can be obtain via the link to the right.

A note of the city council's current guidelines on convictions of licensed drivers can be found in the related documents links on the right of this page.

The latest information on the criminal record check process can be obtained from the CRB’s extensive web site; their guidance on dealing with disclosure forms and the applicant’s guide will be of particular interest.

If all the checks mentioned above prove satisfactory, applicants for licences will sit our "Topography Test", which will seek to ensure that they have a detailed geographic knowledge of the city and understand their responsibilities as a licensed driver.

A form for notification of the change of address of an existing licence holder can be found in the related documents links on the right of this page.

Contact information

Email: licensing@southampton.gov.uk

Telephone: 023 8083 2792

Fax: 023 8083 4061

Postal address:
Licensing Team
Southampton City Council
PO Box 1344
Southampton
SO15 1WQ

Document Exchange: DX 115710 Southampton 17

Personal callers:
Licensing Team
Southbrook Rise
4-8 Millbrook Road East
Southampton
SO15 1YG

Opening hours:
Members of the licensing team will normally be available at Southbrook Rise to assist personal callers on weekdays between 09:00 and 12:00 and between 14:00 and 16:00. We may be available at other times by prior appointment.