Taxi and Private Hire Operators
A taxi is a vehicle licensed for carrying passengers. The driver of a taxi can pick passengers up from the streets and can ply for hire in a public place.
A private hire vehicle is also licensed for carrying passengers. However, all fares must be pre-booked. It is different from a taxi in that a private hire car driver cannot pick passengers up from the streets or ply for hire in public places.
Vehicles do not need to be licensed while being used in connection with a funeral or a wedding. Vehicles also do not need to be licensed while being used for carrying passengers under a contract for its exclusive hire for a period of not less than 24 hours. eg extended touring holiday when a hired car with a driver are available to a holidaymaker throughout a holiday period.
A taxi or private hire vehicle must be no more than seven years old from the date of first registration. After that the vehicle must be replaced with a vehicle no more than five years old. A purpose built taxi-cab meeting M1 specification must be no more than ten years old from the date of first registration. After that the vehicle must be replaced with a vehicle no more than five years old.
A taxi or private hire operator who wishes to drive their vehicle also needs a licence to act as a taxi/private hire car driver.
