Key facts
- Licensing authority
- Winchester City Council
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 76 taxis (34 wheelchair accessible), 156 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 277 drivers, 51 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 1.71 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Driver licence, hackney and/or private hire, initial: 1 year / 3 years
- £137.20 / £326.60[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Winchester?
232 vehicles in 2026 against 280 in 2024: taxis 89 → 76, private hire 191 → 156; 1.71 per 1,000 residents; 45% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 89 | 76 | down 15% |
| Private hire vehicles | 191 | 156 | down 18% |
| Driver licences | 280 | 277 | down 1% |
| Operator licences | 36 | 51 | up 42% |
How does Winchester compare with other councils in the South East?
Among councils in the South East, Winchester ranks 44th of 64 for vehicles per head (1.71 per 1,000, median 2.23). It ranks 32nd for operators (51, median 51).[1]
| Measure | Winchester | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 1.71 | 2.23 | 44th of 64 |
| Operator licences | 51 | 51 | 32nd of 64 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 3 | 4 | 39th of 64 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 45% | 14% | 15th of 64 |
What does the Winchester market look like for an operator?
Winchester's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 33% taxis, 67% private hire of 232 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 3 PHVs per operator on average (156 across 51 licences).
- 1.2 drivers per vehicle (277 for 232).
- 38% dual-licensed drivers, 171 PHV-only.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 12 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Winchester differ from other councils?
3 departures from the usual rules in Winchester's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard, and drivers must carry out daily roadworthiness checks.[1]
- Partial taxi cap: Winchester limits licences for some vehicle types; about 3 in 4 councils have no cap.
- No good-character certificate from Winchester applicants who lived abroad; about 84% of councils require one.
- Policy last updated: 2026, by Winchester's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Winchester grant?
6 new, 13 renewed; 51 in force (36 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Winchester?
From Winchester City Council's own fee page, read 08/11/2026. Fees are reviewed each year, usually from April, so check the page before you apply.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Driver licence, hackney and/or private hire, initial: 1 year / 3 years | £137.20 / £326.60 |
| Driver licence renewal: 1 year / 3 years | £102.20 / £291.60 |
| Vehicle licence, hackney carriage or private hire (initial or renewal) | £195 |
| Private hire operator licence: 1 year / 5 years | £250 / £570 |
| Replacement (2-month) vehicle licence | £94 |
| Transfer of interest / change of vehicle | £45 / £50 |
| Knowledge re-test | £35 |
Winchester City Council: Taxi and private hire policy and fees, read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Winchester driver licence?
Driver licence, hackney and/or private hire, initial: 1 year / 3 years: £137.20 / £326.60, according to Winchester City Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Winchester?
51 at 1 April 2026, 36 at 1 April 2024 (DfT).
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] DfT taxi and private hire vehicle statistics 2026, tables TAXI0104-TAXI0112 (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] GOV.UK: Driver licences for taxis and private hire vehicles (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] Winchester City Council: Taxi and private hire policy and fees (read 8 Nov 2026)
