New additions to licence conditions
New conditions have been added to the taxi and private hire licence for vehicles licensed in Southampton. These changes are in place to ensure we can reduce emissions from Southampton’s fleet operating across the city by 1 January 2023.
The additional conditions to the licences are:
No diesel vehicle with an emissions standard of Euro 5 (European emission standard) or lower will be granted a licence on or after 1st January 2020 other than by way of licence renewal unless the vehicle has been converted with approved Clean Vehicle Retrofit Accreditation Scheme (CVRAS) technology.
No diesel vehicle with an emissions standard of Euro 5 or lower will be licensed or relicensed by way of renewal on or after 1st January 2022 unless the vehicle has been converted with approved CVRAS technology.
Any vehicle fitted with approved CVRAS technology may be exempt from these conditions subject to the vehicle meeting all other relevant conditions and on production of approved certification.
How to check my vehicle's Euro standard
To confirm your vehicle's Euro standard please contact your vehicle manufacturer. However, the following dates are generally associated with the engine Euro standard.
| Emissions standard | Applied to new passenger car approvals from | Applied to most new registrations from |
|---|---|---|
| Euro 1 | 1 July 1992 | 31 December 1992 |
| Euro 2 | 1 January 1996 | 1 January 1997 |
| Euro 3 | 1 January 2000 | 1 January 2001 |
| Euro 4 | 1 January 2005 | 1 January 2006 |
| Euro 5 | 1 September 2009 | 1 January 2011 |
| Euro 6 | 1 September 2014 | 1 September 2015 |
The first taxi-only rapid charger for Southampton City Council licensed taxi and private hire vehicles has been installed in Lances Hill Car Park, Bitterne. Charging is currently free for an introductory period. Rapid units can charge an electric vehicle battery in under 40 minutes and should be used to provide a top-up during the working day. To access the unit you will need a fob, for more information please email us on electric.vehicles@southampton.gov.uk.
We’re delighted to announce another rapid charger is being installed in Southbrook Road South car park on the north side of the Southampton train station. The unit should be operational in February 2020.
We are doing this because there is growing evidence that poor air quality is responsible for a range of health issues including cancer, respiratory and heart illnesses. Road transport has been identified as being one of the major contributors to poor air quality.
In 2018, we reviewed the introduction of a Clean Air Zone where taxis and private hire vehicles that did not meet the minimum Euro emission standards may be charged for entering the city. After the initial consultation, the approach was reviewed with an alternative being announced in January 2019. We introduced the Green City Charter with a series of ambitious goals, including our aim to be carbon neutral by 2030.
