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.