Private Hire Vehicle Licensing

What is a Private Hire Vehicle?
Private hire vehicles may only be pre-booked, and may not be hailed in the street or stand and ply for hire. Their fares are not regulated by the city council, and must be the subject of agreement between passenger and driver before a journey commences.

Southampton's licence conditions require such vehicles to be a colour other than white. They may only be driven by the holder of a private hire driver's licence.

The licence conditions require the front doors of licensed private hire vehicles to to be clearly marked with a sign indicating that the vehicle is licensed and bearing the name and telephone number of the operator. The vehicle also has a white and blue licence plate on the rear, the details of which are reproduced on a sticker in the windscreen. No Southampton licensed private hire vehicle may have a roof sign of any description.

Quantity Control
Unlike hackney carriages (taxis), the law does not permit any controls on the numbers of private hire vehicles. More than 400 private hire vehicles are licensed by the city council. Minimum standards for the quality of such vehicles is controlled by licence conditions.

How do I apply for a licence?
Application forms for a new licence, change of vehicle on an existing licence and 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. You are strongly advised to seek the advice of the licensing team before purchasing any vehicle to be licensed for private hire.

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.

Please note that the addresses and numbers given above should only be used for communication with the licensing team.