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Hackney Carriage and Private Hire

The Council is responsible for licensing hackney carriages (often referred to as taxis) and private hire vehicles, drivers and operators who work within the Council’s boundary.  The main aim is to ensure the safety of the fare paying travelling public by ensuring that the drivers, vehicles and operators that they use are safe, reliable and efficient.  Conditions are imposed on licences in order to achieve this and we enforce by way of regular inspections.

Hackney carriage and private hire vehicle drivers that are licensed can all be identified by looking at their badges, which drivers should have with them at all times when they are driving. These badges give the licensed number of the driver, an expiry date and show a photograph of the driver.

Hackney Carriage Vehicles (Taxi) have a fare meter fitted and calibrated in accordance with the current fare charges and carry a roof sign containing the word Taxi.  Display on the exterior rear of the vehicle a Hackney Carriage plate detailing the Licence Number and the number of passengers the vehicle is licensed to carry, also a plate is displayed on the bottom right of the windscreen.  This type of vehicle does not require an Operators Licence to conduct business.  They can be flagged down in the street, or be hired at taxi ranks. 

Private hire vehicles do not have a roof sign or plate but can be identified by the Private Hire Plate that is located on the front passenger side windscreen. They can only be prebooked with a private hire operator and cannot use taxi ranks or be flagged down in the street. Operators are licensed by the Council to make sure that only licensed drivers and vehicles are used for each journey. 

The Council sets a table of fares for hackney carriages but cannot control the fares charged by private hire vehicle operators.

For further advice or information please contact the Council using the details below.

Personal callers are also welcomed during office hours but appointments should be made where technical advice or information is sought.