A licence is required before any person can lawfully drive a hackney carriage (taxi) or private hire vehicle. Havant Borough Council issues a Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence for a period of 3 years.

Before a licence is granted the applicant must satisfy the Council that they are a ‘fit and proper’ person to hold a licence. Details on how the Council determines applications can be found in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.

Applying for a licence

Applicants are required to contact the Licensing Team on 02392 446660 or licensing@havant.gov.uk to request an application pack. The pack includes an application form, guidance notes and other relevant information.

The Council recommends that all applicants review the relevant guidance notes and the Council policy prior to applying for a licence.

As part of the application process, individuals will be required to:

  • Attend an interview with a Licensing Officer;
  • Evidence that they have the right to live and work in the UK;
  • Provide details of any driving offences or endorsements;
  • Pass the Council's knowledge test;
  • Pass a driving assessment with either Blue Lamp Trust or Taxi Driver Tests;
  • Complete a virtual classroom safeguarding awareness course with Blue Lamp Trust;
  • Obtain an enhanced DBS certificate with TaxiPlus, and sign up to the DBS Update Service;
  • Obtain a Certificate of Good Character, where they have spent six or more continuous months overseas since the age of 18 years old;
  • Obtain a Medical Report from their registered GP or D4Drivers, stating that they meet the Group 2 standards of medical fitness to drive.

A fee is due for this application; please refer to the prices for Council services.

Renewals

Existing drivers can apply to renew their Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence. A written reminder, with application documents enclosed, will be sent to each driver prior to their licence expiring.

The Council recommends that all applicants review the relevant guidance notes and the Council’s policy prior to applying to renew their licence. 

As part of the renewal process, licensees will be required to:

  • Evidence that they have the right to live and work in the UK;
  • Provide details of any driving offences or endorsements;
  • Obtain an enhanced DBS certificate with TaxiPlus, and/or evidence that they are signed up to the DBS Update Service;
  • Obtain a Certificate of Good Character, where they have spent six or more continuous months overseas since their last application.

A fee is due for this application; please refer to the prices for Council services.

Safeguarding Training

From 1 January 2024, any driver renewing their Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence will be required to provide evidence that they have attended and passed a classroom-based safeguarding awareness course with the Blue Lamp Trust. A licence will not be renewed without this.

The course aims to provide drivers with a knowledge and understanding of safeguarding, their responsibilities and best practice protocols. The candidate will be able to:

  • Understand what is meant by the term ‘safeguarding’
  • Identify adults at risk and other vulnerable people
  • Understand what is meant by child sexual and criminal exploitation, human trafficking, modern slavery and domestic abuse
  • Recognise types of abuse, associated signs and indicators
  • Identify suspicious activities
  • Know how, and to whom, they can report concerns
  • Understand their safeguarding responsibilities and best practice protocols

National Register of Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Revocations, Refusals and Suspensions (NR3S)

The Licensing Authority provides information to the National Register of Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Revocations, Refusals and Suspensions (NR3S) which is part of the National Anti-Fraud Network (NAFN). The Register is a mechanism for licensing authorities to share details of individuals who have had a hackney carriage and/or private hire driver’s licence revoked, suspended or an application refused. This is necessary for compliance with a legal obligation to which the Council is subject. 

Where a Combined (Dual) Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver’s licence is revoked or suspended, or an application for one refused, the Licensing Authority will automatically record this decision on NR3S. All applications for a new licence or licence renewal will automatically be checked on NR3S. If a search of NR3S indicates a match with an applicant, the Authority will seek further information about the entry on the register from the authority which recorded it. Any information received as a result of an NR3S search will only be used in respect of the specific licence application and will not be retained beyond the determination of that application.

You have a number of rights on how your data is used, including the right to object, find out more about your rights in our privacy policy.

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