New Forest District Council consults on taxi and private hire fee rises
- Perry Richardson
- 8 hours ago
- 2 min read
New Forest District Council has opened a formal consultation on proposed increases to taxi and private hire licensing fees as part of its draft 2026/27 budget, with higher charges expected to take effect from 1 April 2026.
The council said the proposed rises are intended to recover additional costs linked to new national requirements that licensing authorities are obliged to implement. These include HM Revenue and Customs tax conditionality checks, updated statutory guidance issued by the Department for Transport, and an increase in the number and scope of Disclosure and Barring Service checks for drivers.
Under the proposals, the fee for a private hire or hackney carriage vehicle licence, whether new or renewed for one year and including the vehicle plate, would rise from £167 to £177. Vehicle inspection fees would increase from £60 to £63, while executive vehicle exemptions would move from £55 to £58.
Drivers would also see higher individual charges. The cost of the Driver Knowledge Test is proposed to increase from £50 to £60, and a three year driver licence would rise from £162 to £172. A stepped bracket fee applied to vehicles would increase from £30 to £32.
Licence, testing and inspection charges would increase from April as council cites higher regulatory and compliance costs
Private hire operators are also affected by the proposals. The fee for a five year private hire operator licence, whether new or renewed, would rise from £520 to £533 under the draft schedule.
The council said the changes reflect the expanded workload placed on licensing teams following national policy changes, rather than a shift in local enforcement approach. Local authorities are required to ensure that licensing regimes are fully cost neutral, meaning fees must cover administration and compliance costs but cannot generate surplus income.
A consultation period is now open, allowing licence holders and other stakeholders to object to the proposed fees. Objections must be submitted in writing by midnight on Thursday 12 February 2026, setting out the reasons for opposition.
If no objections are received, or if any objections are later withdrawn, the revised fees will automatically come into force on 1 April 2026. Where objections remain outstanding, the General Purposes and Licensing Committee will consider them and determine whether the increases should proceed as proposed or with modifications.
The proposed changes come amid wider pressure on taxi and private hire operators nationally, with rising operating costs, tighter regulatory oversight and increased compliance checks becoming a growing concern for drivers and fleet operators alike.
