Hackney carriages or taxis as they are better known, undertake the same type of work as private hire vehicles, there are however fundamental differences in the way they are able to work.

Hackney carriages  are permitted to stand on taxi ranks waiting for customers, they can also pick up in the street after being waved down. Neither of these two activities can be undertaken by private hire vehicles.

All hackney carriages are fitted with a meter which will, upon arriving at the destination, give the cost of the journey. The scale of charges are set by the council following public consultation. The table of fares showing the charges must be displayed in the vehicle. The driver must not charge more than the amount shown on the meter. Journeys may also be booked and at that time a quote may be given for the cost of the journey which if accepted must be honoured by the driver.

Vehicles are tested annually and on passing the test they will be licensed to carry a maximum number of passengers, the number permitted to be carried will be shown on the plate attached to the rear of the vehicle. 

The drivers must be licensed by the Council. (Please see joint drivers licence in the links on the left)

Please use the links on  the right to navigate to the forms relating to an application for a hackney carriage licence and the relevant conditions regulating its use.