Dual driver and private hire driver licence

There are two types of taxi vehicles that you can be licenced to drive. These are Hackney Carriage Vehicles and Private Hire Vehicles which are explained below. If you apply for a Dual Drivers licence, you will be able to drive both Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Vehicles.

Hackney Carriage Vehicles

These vehicles may pick up at formal taxi ranks or be flagged down by people. They may also be pre-booked by personal or telephone requests.

They must exhibit a yellow plate on the rear and they must also have a roof sign.

All vehicles are fitted with a fare meter which is calibrated in accordance with fees formally agreed by us and periodically checked.

A standard fee or "flag drop" is made for picking up a passenger and then the meter advances through distance or duration of the journey.

Vehicles must be no older than 6 years when first licensed as a Hackney carriage.

Private Hire Vehicles

These vehicles may only be used to pick passengers up as a result of a call to a licensed Private Hire Operator. The vehicles are not insured to pick up passengers other than those who have pre-booked the journey. Private Hire vehicles may not wait at taxi ranks or accept work from people that flag them down.

Private Hire vehicles must exhibit a green licence plate on their rear and may not be a roof sign fitted to these vehicles.

Vehicles must be no older than 6 years when first licensed for Private Hire use.