South Hams taxi and private-hire licensing

RESEARCHED AUTHORITY

South Hams

South Hams District Council · Sources checked 13 September 2026

Driver licensing

Official route/source found

The council’s currently published licensing policy makes public safety the primary aim and applies a fit-and-proper-person assessment to new and existing hackney-carriage and private-hire driver applicants and licence holders.

• Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy

Vehicle licensing

Official route/source found

Private-hire vehicle applications require V5, hire-and-reward insurance, public-liability insurance evidence, an MOT and FTA-standard test certificate both issued within thirty days, Euro NCAP rating confirmation, application and fee. Renewals additionally require interim MOT and FTA certificates. Vehicles over ten years require a council inspection appointment as well. Confirm suitability with licensing@swdevon.gov.uk before applying. A transfer to a new proprietor requires the transfer application, fee, insurance and V5. Rear plate and internal front badge identify the licensed vehicle.

• Current vehicle application service

Operator licensing

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

The council-hosted 2022 policy sections 42–48 specifies annual or five-year operator renewals; individual/partner applicants supply basic DBS dated within one month and annually thereafter, with an existing-valid-DBS exemption whose cross-reference is defective. Applicants, partners, directors and company secretary complete conviction declarations. Since 1 April 2023 controllers/dispatch staff require basic DBS, retained twelve months and supplied on request within seven days; an ex-offender policy is supplied within fourteen days. Public/employers' liability evidence is required except for single-vehicle operators. Section 46 additionally requires written notification of arrests, charges, convictions, cautions, disqualification and fixed penalties within 48 hours, and ownership/partner/company-name changes within seven days. Notify a new base before moving; bases are normally in South Hams, with immediate-neighbour applications considered individually. This is substantive dated official evidence, but post-2025 review/adoption and the defective exemption reference remain unconfirmed.

• Current official operator licensing requirements and policy evidence

Licensing fees

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

Current council fee page lists HC vehicle £193, PH vehicle £170, fully wheelchair-accessible HC/PH vehicle £20 and electric vehicle £24. Driver renewal £150 for one year or £312 for three years; initial application fee £150 (term unspecified). Knowledge test £50; DBS £72. PH operator £150 for one year or £500 for five. Replacement plate £24, vehicle ownership transfer £60 and replacement driver badge £18.

• South Hams current licensing fees

Taxi tariff

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

A limited standard-fare benchmark is available: PHTM's May 2026 table lists South Hams at £7.80 for a two-mile Tariff 1 journey. East Devon's official July 2025 comparison independently reproduces the same £7.80 benchmark and identifies 2022 as the last rise, expressly attributing the data to PHTM. This does not establish the complete South Hams meter table. The flag charge, included distance, subsequent pulses, waiting, night/holiday bands and extras are not reconstructed from this single example; an arbitrary-distance calculator remains withheld.

• East Devon July 2025 comparison quoting PHTM
• PHTM May 2026 standard two-mile comparison

Mandatory qualifications

Official evidence found; detail still to confirm

The council issues dual badges. New applicants must have held a full UK driving licence for twelve months and complete a Devon Travel Academy driving assessment, Highway Code/local knowledge tests, Group 2 medical with their own GP/practice, enhanced DBS and right-to-work checks. An interview verifies identification. DBS Update Service registration is required after the certificate arrives. This application page does not establish safeguarding/disability training or refresher intervals; those remain explicit policy-review gaps.

• Current application requirements