Taxi (Hackney Carriage) driver licensing

There has been an increase in the use of courier fraud in Hampshire and the police have released the below leaflet for your information. If you have any concerns about a suspect fare you have been given please contact the police on 101 or 999 in an emergency.

Courier fraud leaflet(PDF) [187 kb]

Taxis in Basingstoke and Deane are purpose built wheelchair accessible vehicles with a taxi roof light. Typically these are the London style black cabs and converted people carrier vehicles. A hackney carriage vehicle can only be driven by a driver who holds a dual hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence.

New/upgrade applications

A guidance and application pack is below, if you wish to apply for a dual hackney carriage and private hire driver's licence. The pack outlines the procedure to apply for a new dual hackney carriage and private hire drivers licence. It also includes all application forms and fees. The pack also has the procedure on upgrading to a dual hackney carriage and private hire driver’s licence.

Applicants must meet specific criteria in order to be considered for a licence. We must be satisfied that an applicant is a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a dual hackney carriage and private hire drivers licence and transport members of the public. All dual hackney carriage and private hire driver licences are issued subject to compliance with the standard hackney carriage byelaws below.

All new applicants must provide a criminal history back to the age of 10 years. If you were born in or have lived in countries other than the UK you will need to provide the relevant criminal history from each country. Find out how to obtain information on your relevant criminal history on the GOV.UK website.

It is essential you read the application pack before contacting the licensing team to enable you understand the application process

Renewal applications

Existing licence holders will be sent a renewal reminder four to eight weeks before a licence is due for renewal. Renewal application forms are not available to download online. If you have not received your renewal reminder within this timescale please contact the Licensing Team to request a renewal reminder pack is sent to you by email or by post.

Since October 2016 all drivers renewing their licence are now be required to provide evidence of their right to remain in the UK and right to work. Once satisfactory evidence has been provided no further checks will be necessary. If there are restrictions on your right to remain and/or work your licence application may be refused or the term of the licence restricted based on your Visa authorisation.

Making a change to an existing licence

Further guidance is available below for existing licensed drivers who need to notify the licensing team of a change of their name or address details.

All dual hackney carriage and private hire driver licences are issued subject to compliance with the standard hackney carriage byelaws which are available below for your information.