Taxi licences

We are responsible for licensing taxis in the New Forest. This includes hackney carriage and private hire drivers, vehicles and operators.

Any vehicle carrying eight or fewer passengers for hire or reward must be licensed, and can only be driven by a licensed driver. Both licences must be issued by the same council. A private hire vehicle must receive its work from a licensed operator from the same council.

Southampton City Council (SCC) have introduced changes for non-Southampton licensed vehicles that use certain areas in the city. This means you may be fined if you use a bus lane or Portland Terrace bus gate in Southampton. For information please visit SCC's bus lane changes webpage. Please direct any queries to SCC.

Taxi and Private Hire Policy Review. The consultation on proposed changes to the draft Policy has closed. On Friday 10 January 2025 the General Purposes and Licensing Committee met. Members considered the amendments and agreed that the changes proposed, based on responses received, were appropriate. The amended Policy will be presented to full Council for approval on Monday 24 February 2025. For full details on how the changes will affect you please visit the Taxi and private hire policy review webpage.