Southampton’s white taxis
White taxis are easily recognised around Southampton City and include a range of vehicles.
Look for the white sign on the roof, and the red Hackney Carriage licence plate found on the back of the vehicle.
As an association, they provide taxis for all kinds of journeys including the famous London Taxis, multi-seater (MPVs) with disabled access which can take up to 7 people, luxury saloons and, more recently, hybrid cars.
Hail & Ride
You can Hail and Ride a Hackney Taxi confident in the knowledge that your safety is paramount.
Did you know?
If you hail a Hackney Carriage taxi you are insured to travel. Private hire cars are not allowed to pick passengers up without a booking. In Southampton, private hire cars or mini-cabs can be any colour except white, and do not have a taxi sign on the roof.
Keep safe
Only Hail and Ride in a car which is a registered Hackney Carriage Taxi.
Your safety
All drivers are licensed, regulated and CRB checked by Southampton City Council, with the majority also holding NVQ and BTEC qualifications in transporting passengers by taxi.
For your security, nearly all Southampton Hackney Carriages have CCTV cameras installed. All vehicles are MOT checked every year (compliance test) to ensure they are roadworthy. If a vehicle is more than 2 years old, it also has to have an additional roadworthy test. To ensure passenger safety, taxis are retired after 7 to 10 years depending on the vehicle type.
Private hire vehicles