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Fareham Borough Council proposes doubling taxi driver experience requirement to four years in licensing shake-up
Fareham Borough Council is proposing to double the minimum period that new taxi and private hire driver applicants must have held a full UK driving licence, from two years to four years.
The Hampshire authority announced the proposals on Tuesday 13 October 2026 as part of a review of its Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy.
The consultation, which runs until 20 November, also proposes reducing the number of attempts applicants can make at the council’s knowledge test and changing the requirements for overseas good conduct documentation.
Under the existing policy, prospective drivers must have held a full UK driving licence for at least two years. The revised policy would increase that requirement to four years, potentially delaying entry into the licensed trade for some applicants.
The draft retains provisions allowing applicants who have held a driving licence outside the UK for more than 12 months to be considered individually. Successful applicants using that route would need to hold a full UK driving licence when renewing their taxi or private hire licence.
The council is also proposing to reduce the number of knowledge test attempts available within a 12-month period from three to two.
Both hackney carriage and private hire driver applicants must pass the test, which is administered externally by Safe 4 Transport.
Reducing the number of permitted attempts could extend the application process for candidates who fail twice, although the council has not published figures showing how many applicants currently require a third attempt.
A separate amendment concerns letters of good conduct used to assess applicants who have lived outside the UK.
The existing policy requires applicants to provide documentation covering countries in which they have lived since the age of 10.
Under the revised wording, applicants would need a letter of good conduct from countries outside the UK where they have lived for six continuous months or more since turning 18.
The proposed change would therefore narrow the period of overseas residence covered by that particular documentation requirement.
The council’s consultation summary describes the amendment as removing consideration of criminal record checks for ages below 18 in the context of letters of good conduct.
However, the published draft does not establish a general exemption for offences committed before adulthood across all licensing suitability assessments. Existing Disclosure and Barring Service requirements remain part of the application process.
Councillor Joanne Burton, the council’s Executive Member for Health and Public Protection, said :“The Council’s licensing policy plays an essential role in ensuring the taxi and private hire services in Fareham are safe, reliable and of a high standard. These proposed updates reflect current guidance and best practice, helping to ensure our licencing requirements remain fair and effective. I encourage everyone affected by the changes to take part in the consultation and share their views.”
