Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles
These pages provide general information about the taxi and private hire licensing functions and related issues.
Please note that the city council does not employ individual drivers, proprietors or operators; many work together on radio circuits, others work individually. If you wish to book a taxi or private hire vehicle, you should contact a licensed operator direct. The city council's role is to regulate their businesses in accordance with a complex body of law stretching back to 1847.
Types of licence
Hackney carriages, often referred to as taxis, may be hailed, hired from a taxi rank or pre-booked. Licensed vehicles have a roof sign and a distinctive red and white licence plate on the rear. Fares are regulated and a taximeter will be used.
Hackney carriage drivers may drive a Southampton licensed hackney carriage, and must wear or display their licence badge.
Private hire vehicles may only be pre-booked and are identified by signs on the side of vehicle which give details of their operator and licence number and a distinctive white and blue licence plate on the rear. Fares are not regulated and should be agreed at the time of booking. A taximeter may be used.
Private hire drivers may drive a Southampton licensed private hire vehicle and must wear or display their licence badge.
Private hire operator's licences are required by individuals or firms which take bookings for the hire of private hire vehicles.
How do I make an application?
The links on the left of this page will take you to pages for each individual licence type, including a selection of application forms.
Complaints
If you wish to complain about a hackney carriage (taxi), private hire vehicle, driver or operator licensed by the city council, please read the guidance document and use either of the forms in the related documents links on the right of this page. Please note that, if your complaint relates to a road traffic infringement, such as alleged "road rage", your complaint must be made to Hampshire Constabulary in the first instance.
Fares
The city council regulates the fares charged for journeys in hackney carriages (taxis) within the city boundary.
Copies of the current and previous maximum tables of fares appear on the right of this page. A proposal to vary the table of fares in 2007 was withdrawn on 26th September 2007 by those proposing it.
On 4th June 2008 the Licensing (General) Sub-Committee considered proposals for the variation of the table of fares for the hire of hackney carriages in Southampton. Notice of the proposal was published in the Southern Daily Echo on 9th June 2008 and the period for objections closed on 23rd June 2008. No objections were made, and thus in accordance with the Licensing (General) Sub-Committee's decision, the varied table of fares will come into effect on 14th July 2008.
It is important to note that fares charged for the hire of private hire vehicles are not regulated by the city council; in both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles, you should always ensure that the basis of the fare has been agreed before the commencement of the journey, especially if that journey goes beyond the city boundary.
Wheelchair accessibility
A number of the city's licensed hackney carriages and private hire vehicles are wheelchair accessible, and a list of these, including contact details, where available, can be found in the related documents links on the right of this page.
Please note that this list is provided for information only, and that Southampton City Council cannot guarantee that individual proprietors or drivers will be able or willing to provide any particular taxi or private hire service.
With effect from 2010, the government's Department for Transport intends to implement Part 5 of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 to require all hackney carriages to be wheelchair accessible. These proposals are still being developed, and when they are announced, will appear on the Department for Transport's web site - please see the link to the right of this page.
Public Registers
Details of licences granted for hackney carriages, private hire vehicles and private hire operators are available via the Online Licensing Register link. The public register in respect of hackney carriage and private hire drivers also appears to 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.
Please note that the addresses and numbers given above should only be used for communication with the licensing team.
Last updated: 11 August 2008
