Licence - hackney carriage and private hire

Hackney carriage vehicle (Taxi)
Hackney carriages work from various ranks and can also be hailed on the street.
Private hire vehicle (Minicab)
Private hire vehicles are only available by prior booking through a private hire office and are not allowed to be hailed in the street.

To distinguish between the two, hackney carriage vehicles have white licence plates and private hire vehicles have red licence plates. Both have internal plates displayed on the front windscreen.

Safeguarding your journey
All drivers licensed by the taxi and private hire licensing services have been fully vetted, including the completion of a Criminal Records Bureau disclosure form. All vehicles have undergone and passed stringent tests for roadworthiness to comply with the current licensing conditions before a licence is issued. If you have any concerns do not get into the vehicle.

By following the guidelines set out in the Suzy Lamplough Trust guidance sheet you can go out and enjoy yourself knowing that you won't be taking any unnecessary risks.

Please contact the Licensing Team for further information: