Taxi and private hire licensing policy
- Licensing policy for licenced drivers and operators (pdf 515 kb)
- Licensing policy for licenced vehicles (word 128 kb)
Licence conditions and byelaws
All licences have conditions attached to them. Additionally, the council has adopted byelaws covering hackney carriages.
- Hackney carriage byelaws (pdf 136 kb)
- Hackney carriage conditions (pdf 98 kb)
- Private hire vehicle conditions (pdf 98 kb)
Designated wheelchair accessible vehicles
Designated wheelchair accessible vehicles in accordance with section 167 of the equality act 2010.
Qualifications for drivers
All new licenced drivers must pass a suitable qualification on the introduction to the role of the professional taxi and private hire driver, within 12 months of being licenced as a driver for the first time. This is to help ensure all drivers develop the skills and knowledge required to keep themselves, their vehicle, their passengers and the public safe.
Suitable courses include:
- City and Guilds level 2 certificate Introduction to the role of the professional taxi and private hire driver
- Level 2 VRQ Introduction to the role of the taxi and private hire driver
- Level 2 NVQ Certificate in road passenger vehicle driving (taxi and private hire)
- Highfield level 2 certificate for professional taxi and private hire drivers
Other courses may be acceptable but these need to be agreed in writing with the Licensing Team before the start of the qualification.
Training providers include the following:
In providing this information EHDC is not recommending a specific training provider, all drivers should check the trainer’s suitability to provide the required qualification to you.
Holders of the restricted private hire licence should contact the Licensing Team for further details on suitable courses.
Hackney carriage and private hire safeguarding awareness training
The requirement for EHDC licenced drivers to complete safeguarding awareness training was introduced in the revised hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy for drivers and operators that was introduced on 1st November 2023.
As well as completing appropriate training prior to initial licensing, refresher safeguarding awareness training must be completed prior to re-licensing. That applies to both drivers issued with a one-year drivers licence and those issued with a three-year drivers licence.
Please note that safeguarding awareness training must be completed via either a physical or virtual classroom setting. We do not accept safeguarding training via any eLearning courses.
DBS checks
Existing drivers must be signed up to the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) so that their DBS can be checked online at the frequency detailed in our licensing policy.
Drivers are responsible for maintaining their subscription with the DBS.
East Hampshire taxi association
All drivers are reminded that they are able to join the East Hampshire taxi association (EHTA) free of charge.
The EHTA meets regularly to discuss issues affecting the trade. The licensing team can also attend meetings if requested.
We would encourage all drivers to sign up with the EHTA in order for views across the trade to be expressed. We will also include the EHTA in our consultations.
Drivers can sign up at the EHTA website or contact Pete Blackman of Alton 8s on 01420 88888 for more details.