- 1. Service Description
Staff handle applications concerning the licensing of hackney carriages (taxis)
and private hire vehicles throughout East Hampshire. Licence plates are issued
after a number of checks are made to ensure vehicles are safe and suitable.
Applications for vehicle drivers are also processed and badges issued when
criterion are met. Staff police the district to ensure that unauthorised
vehicles and drivers are not operating.
- 1. Service Standard - Applications for Licences.
Applications for Licences.
Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicle licences and driver's permits are
issued within 5 days of receipt of all documentation (criminal record check
where appropriate).
- A.I want to drive a taxi, do I need a licence?
Yes. You will need a permit from the Council. You will need to complete an
application and submit documention to prove that you are a fit and proper
person to drive a taxi or a private hire vehicle. You will be provided with a
driver's badge and a permit both of which are renewable yearly. A fee is
payable for this service. To drive a taxi or private hire vehicle without a
permit is an offence.
- B.I am licensed in another District. Do I need another licence in East Hants?
Yes, but if we can obtain a copy of medical, held by the other authority,
you will not have to have another examination, providing it is to Group II
standard, on the initial application.
- C.I hold a PSV(PCV)Licence. Am I required to have another medical?
No. We accept the PSV(PCV) Licence as having passed a satisfactory medical
but we need to see the PSV(PCV) Licence and Counterpart.
- D.Is there an age restriction?
No but you must have held a driving licence for over a year. There is no
upper age limit.
- E.How often am I required to have a medical examination?
Up to age 60 you will be required to have a medical every five years.
Between the ages of 60 and 70 this becomes an annual requirement and aged over
70, six monthly.
- F.I would like to run my own Private Hire Vehicle business, do I need a licence?
Yes. You will need an Operators Licence. You will need to complete a form
and supply the names and addresses of two people that we can write to for
references.
If you also wish to run your own vehicles and act as a driver you will also
need Private Hire Vehicle Licences and a Drivers Permit. (See questions A and
G)
Please contact the Licensing Office for advice and/or application forms -
01730 234095/234379.
- G.I would like to drive my own car for an Operator, what licences do I need?
You will need a Driver's Permit (see answer to question A) and a Private
Hire Vehicle Licence.
For the initial application, the vehicle must be under nine years old and
will be required to go through a vehicle test at one of the garages nominated
by the Council (see list below). You will be required to provide the following
documentation -
MOT, if applicable, Registration Document or proof of ownership, Insurance
and Mechanical Test Certificate
You will be asked to bring the vehicle to East Hampshire District Council
offices so that the licensing officer can inspect the suitability of the
vehicle and check the presence of a fire extinguisher and first aid box.
If your application is successful, you will be issued with a Licence and
Vehicle Plate and these are renewable annually.
The Plate, which must be fixed to the off-side rear of the vehicle, shows
the plate number, the number of passengers the vehicle is licensed to carry,
the expiry date of the licence and the vehicle registration. Unless an
exemption certificate has been issued, it is an offence not to display this
plate. If you hold an exemption certificate, this must be carried together with
the plate and licence inside the car.
.
- How much can a taxi charge?
The price charged by a hackney carriage is shown on a taxi tariff or fare
chart set by the Council. Hackney Carriages cannot charge any more than the
fare on the meter. Therefore if a fare is negotiated between the driver and the
passenger it must be less than that which would have been charged if it had
been metered. The current taxi tariff is attached below.
Private Hire Vehicles can charge what they wish and passengers are advised
to discuss the fare at the time of booking.
Please ring the Licensing Team on 01730 234389 for further information or if
you wish to make a complaint.
- Taxi Tariff March 2008.doc
Taxi Tariff March 2008.doc
- H.What is the maximum age for a vehicle to be licensed in East Hampshire?
Ten years, but it must be under nine years at the initial application.
- I. Do I need an Operators Licence to run a hackney carriage(taxi)?
No. You only need an Operator's Licence if you are running a private hire
vehicle business but you will need Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licences for any
taxis you are operating and Driver's Permits for the drivers.
- J.What do I need to do to obtain a Hackney Carriage(taxi) Licence?
You will need to complete an application form and provide the following
documents (originals and not photocopies)
MOT certificate (if applicable), Insurance, Registration Document or proof
of ownership and Mechanical Test Certificate
You will be required to bring the vehicle to East Hampshire District
Council?s Offices to enable the licensing officer to inspect the suitability of
the vehicle and check the presence of a fire extinguisher and first aid box and
the correct fitting of the 'taxi' sign and meter.
If everything is satisfactory, you will be issued with a Licence and Vehicle
Plate. The Plate must be displayed on the offside rear of the vehicle. You will
also be given a Tariff Card, which must be fixed within the vehicle so that the
passengers can see it.
- K.Can I transfer my licence to a newer vehicle?
Yes. There is a fee but as long as it is a suitable vehicle we can transfer
the remainder of the licence to the replacement vehicle. You will need to
complete a transfer form and provide the following documentation.
MOT certificate (if applicable), Insurance, Registration document and
Mechanical Test certificate.
Please contact the licensing team for further information
tel: 01720 234389 email: licensing@easthants.gov.uk
- L.How often is my vehicle required to have a mechanical test?
Depending upon the age of the vehicle, the licensing officer may require the
vehicle to go through a mechanical test at the initial application. After this,
one test per year is required for vehicles under six years old and two per year
between the ages of six years and ten years. However, there may be
circumstances when additional tests are required.
- M.What garage can I take my car to for its mechanical test?
You may take it to one of the following?
Station Garage (Liphook) Unit B3 Beaver Industrial Estate, Midhurst Road,
Liphook, Hampshire Tel: 01428 722663
Phillips Garage Limited, 30 Ackender Road, Alton, Hampshire GU34 1JS Tel:
01420 83273
Windmill Garage, 249 London Road, Horndean, Hampshire, Tel: 023 92 571003
Froxfield Service Station, Unit 10 Farringdon Industrial Estate, Farringdon,
Alton, Hampshire Tel:01420 587403
Bordon Tyre & Exhaust Centre, Unit 34 Woolmer Trading Estate, Woolmer
Way, Bordon, Hampshire Tel: 01420 477655/472911
You must pay the fee to the garage at the time of the test.
- N.Can you give me a list of the fees for the various licences?
The fees for the year 2008/2009 are -
Operator's Licence................................£150.00
Private Hire Vehicle Licence..................£173
Hackney Carriage (Taxi) Licence...........£173
Dual Driver's Permit (enables holder to drive Hackney or Private Hire
vehicle)....£ 86.00
Replacement Driver's Identification Badge .......£ 22.50
Criminal Record Bureau check ..............£ 36
Transfer of Vehicle Licence to replacement vehicle....................£
86
Temporary Vehicle Licence and Identification Plate ..................£ 86
Transfer of Licence
Type..........................................................£ 86
Copy of
Licence.........................................................................
£18.50
All licences are renewable annually and the renewal fees for the year
2008/2009 are -
Private Hire Vehicle Licence ...........................£173
Hackney Carriage (Taxi )Vehicle Licence .......£166
Dual Driver's Permit........................................£ 46
Plate fixings - Brackets.....................................£ 12.50
- Adhesive pads £ 9.00
- O. I have criminal convictions - can I still get a licence?
Pease discuss all convictions with the licensing officer prior to making
application.
All applicants to drive hackney carriage or private hire vehicles are
required to complete a form for a criminal record disclosure. This is known as
an 'Enhanced CRB'. This will show all spent and live convictions. The Council
will consider all relevant convictions whether spent or not in determining
whether a person is fit and proper. You must declare all convictions on the
application form. In certain circumstances the decision on whether to licence
may not be taken by a licensing officer but will be passed to the Council's
Licensing Committee to decide at a Hearing. Please ask the licensing officer
if your require further information on this.
The Council will have regard to the Council's 'Policy on Convictions' and
EHDC/CRB 'Code of Practice'. These documents are attached below.
- Guidelines relating to the relevance of convictions.doc - EHDC CRB Policy
for web.docGuidelines relating to the relevance of convictions.doc, EHDC CRB Policy for web.doc