Eastleigh taxi and private-hire licensing

This guide publishes only fields supported by the cited official sources. Anything unresolved is visibly withheld rather than inferred.

RESEARCHED AUTHORITY

Eastleigh

Eastleigh Borough Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026

Driver licensing
Official route/source found

The council policy sets a standard three-year driver-licence duration, requires drivers to subscribe to the DBS Update Service and undergo an enhanced DBS check covering both barred lists, applies DVLA Group 2 medical standards, and requires a certificate of good conduct after specified extended periods abroad.

Vehicle licensing
Official route/source found

The council policy states that vehicle licences cannot run for more than one year and explains that new grants may be shorter to align with the council's plate-expiry schedule.

Operator licensing
Official route/source found

The council policy sets a standard five-year private-hire operator-licence duration, subject to shorter duration in appropriate individual circumstances, and says non-driver licence holders undergo standard DBS checks.

Licensing fees
Official route/source found

The council's final schedule, last varied 1 December 2024 and still hosted as its current taxi-fee download, sets hackney-carriage and private-hire driver grant or renewal at £190 for three years, plus badges. Hackney vehicle grant or renewal is £200 annually and private-hire vehicle £190 annually, plus a £15 plate. A private-hire operator grant or renewal is £565 for five years. The schedule also lists the new-driver knowledge test at £40, enhanced DBS at £49.50, safeguarding training at £30 and driver badges at £8 and £10. These are licensing charges, not metered passenger fares.

Taxi tariff
Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

Card dated 1 January 2025: daytime 07:00–23:00 starts £3.40 for 1/13 mile, then prints 20p per started 1/11 mile. However its mile examples correspond to 1/13-mile increments, so that conflict is unresolved. Night/Sunday/bank-holiday rate starts £3.50 for 1/9 mile, then 35p per started 1/9 mile; waiting 35p per started minute. Festive rate prints £6.80 then 40p per started 1/13 mile and 60p per started minute. More than four passengers adds £2 per additional person; tolls/congestion charges extra; soiling £80; no card-payment surcharge.

Mandatory qualifications
Official route/source found

Verified policy requirements include an enhanced DBS check with both barred lists and Update Service subscription for drivers, DVLA Group 2 medical standards, and a certificate of good conduct where the applicant spent more than six months in any one year abroad during the previous five years.

Withheld or still needing confirmation
  • The official policy is dated from 1 January 2022; TECSI has verified only the statements reproduced in the four released fields.
  • The October 2024 trade update gives proposed fee and fare changes but is not sufficient evidence of final adoption, so current fees and tariff remain unavailable pending a live final notice or card.
  • Technical vehicle specifications and the full application workflow remain pending verification from the council's current service pages or appendices.
  • The council labels the rates by their last variation date rather than a financial year; applicants should confirm any case-specific ancillary charge before paying.
  • Day distance units conflict with printed examples; do not silently correct source.
  • Festive 'twice daytime' wording conflicts with its separately printed waiting charge; exact full model held.

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