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Only use a licensed taxi or, if you have booked it in advance, a licensed private hire vehicle.
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When you place your booking with a licensed Private Hire Operator, ask who your driver will be, their badge number and what sort of car they will be driving.
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When the car arrives, make sure it is the one you booked by asking the driver for their name. If you are unsure ask to see their badge to look at the driver's photograph.
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Do not approach a "likely car" and ask, "Can you take me to……...?" unless the vehicle is a taxi licensed by Guildford Borough Council, having a white GBC licence plate fitted to the rear of the vehicle.
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Make sure the vehicle is licensed.
- Is there a GBC licence plate fitted to the rear of the vehicle? (Red or White)
- Is the internal licence plate stuck on the dash board or windscreen?
- Is the driver wearing his photo ID driver's badge in plain view?
- Is the hackney carriage (taxi) fare chart on view?
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If your car is a taxi, or if it is a private hire vehicle using a meter, make sure the meter is set at zero before you get in, unless you have kept the driver waiting past the booked time, then they are entitled to charge waiting time.
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Do not sit in the front unless it is absolutely necessary.
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Do not engage the driver in conversation as the driver does not need the distraction.
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Do not take a car booked by someone else, they will want to get home as well as you.
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The driver of a private hire vehicle will be committing an offence if you have not booked him and may therefore be uninsured. This means you are uninsured. No one needs to be insured until they actually need it - then it is too late.
Do remember that more and more operators now have calling line ID. If you make bogus calls you may subsequently find that an operator has banned you.
And lastly the driver has rendered you a service and is entitled to the fare, so don't forget to pay the driver. If you do not pay you could be the one who ends up in court.
Please contact the Licensing Team for further information:
Licensing Team
Guildford Borough Council
Millmead House
Millmead
Guildford
Surrey
GU2 4BB
Tel: 01483 444371
Email: licensing@guildford.gov.uk