A licence is required to enable a person or business to invite and accept bookings for private hire vehicles. Havant Borough Council issues a Private hire Operator Licence for a period of 5 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.

An application for a Private Hire Operator’s Licence may be submitted by an individual, company or partnership. Where the applicant is a partnership or registered company, the Council may consider any relevant information relating to directors and partners to determine their fitness and propriety.

How to apply

Fill out the Council's online form to request an application pack for any of the following types of applications:

  • Application for a New (Combined) Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s Licence
  • Application for a New Hackney Carriage or Private Hire Vehicle Licence
  • Application for a New Private Hire Operator’s Licence

The Council recommends that all applicants review the relevant guidance notes  and the Council’s 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;
  • Complete a virtual classroom safeguarding awareness course with Blue Lamp Trust, or provide evidence of completion of safeguarding training that meets similar requirements;
  • Provide details of an operating address in the Borough;
  • Provide details of all staff members responsible for taking bookings and dispatching vehicles, including a basic DBS certificate for each of these staff members;
  • Provide details of how the operator will respond to customer complaints;
  • Provide a policy on employing ex-offenders, which as a minimum must detail the frequency of DBS checks for staff members responsible for taking bookings and dispatching vehicles.

If the applicant does not already hold a Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence issued by Havant Borough Council, they must also obtain a basic DBS certificate. Where the applicant is a company or partnership, a basic DBS certificate will be required for each director or partner. This will be an annual requirement.

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

Renewals

Private Hire Operator Licences can be renewed for a period of 5 years. A written reminder, with application documents enclosed, will be sent to each licence holder 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 all staff members responsible for taking bookings and dispatching vehicles, including a basic DBS certificate for each of these staff members;
  • Provide details of how the operator will respond to customer complaints;
  • Provide a policy on employing ex-offenders, which as a minimum must detail the frequency of DBS checks for staff members responsible for taking bookings and dispatching vehicles.

If the licence holder does not already hold a Combined Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Drivers Licence issued by Havant Borough Council, they must also obtain a basic DBS certificate. Where the applicant is a company or partnership, a basic DBS certificate will be required for each director or partner. This is an annual requirement.

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

Safeguarding Training

From 1 January 2024, any operator renewing their Private Hire Operator Licence will be required to provide evidence that they have attended and passed a classroom-based safeguarding awareness course with the Blue Lamp Trust, or provide evidence of completion of safeguarding training that meets similar requirements. 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

Make a comment/complaint

Use our online form to submit a comment, compliment or complaint about any driver, vehicle or operator licensed by the Council.

Useful guidance