Understand the difference between a taxi and private hire vehicle

Taxis (hackney carriages) can be saloons, wheelchair accessible vehicles or London-style black cabs.

A taxi can be identified by:

• a licence plate attached to the back of the vehicle
• a window card in the front windscreen
• a “taxi” roof sign that will light up when the taxi is available

The licence plate and window card are blue and white in colour and should provide the licence number, vehicle details and licence expiry date. Taxis do not have door signs on the front doors.

Taxis can be pre-booked but you can also flag them down or approach a driver at a taxi rank.

The council sets taxi fares and drivers cannot charge more than the amount showing on the meter at the end of your journey. The only exception to this is where your journey will finish outside of the council area and you have agreed the fare beforehand.

A licensed private hire vehicle (minicab) is identified by:

• a licence plate attached to the back of the vehicle
• a window card in the front windscreen
• door signs on both front doors

These plates and signs are yellow in colour and should provide the licence number, vehicle details and licence expiry date.

Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through a licensed private hire operator. If the vehicle isn’t pre-booked the vehicle may not be insured and the driver would be breaking the law.

The council cannot set fares charged for private hire journeys. You should get a quote from the operator before booking your journey. Drivers are not allowed to charge more than the amount you agree with the operator.

Executive private hire vehicles are only used to carry out corporate contract work. Journeys must be pre-booked through a licensed operator via an account or contract.

It may be an executive private hire vehicle if:

• the number plate is smaller and gold coloured
• there are no windscreen disc or door stickers (they're not required)
• the driver is smartly dressed
• the vehicle is of a high specification