taxi licensing

You are here - home : your city : travel & transport : taxi licensing

Taxi Licensing

Taxis, private hire cars, their drivers and operators are licensed by the council annually. Vehicles are subject to age limits and mechanical tests. Drivers undergo periodic Police, DVLA and medical checks. For more information contact the hackney carriage officer at the address or telephone number below.

The council only sets the fares for taxis but private hire cars usually charge the same. A fare card giving details of the charges should be displayed inside each vehicle and a taximeter automatically calculates the fare.

Brighton & Hove's white and aqua taxis, known as Hackney Carriages, are available at taxi ranks. You can also hail them in the street or book them by telephoning an operator. Private Hire cars cannot wait at taxi ranks or stop and pick you up if you hail them. They can only be booked through an operator. Beware of any car which stops to pick you up if it's not a licensed taxi or it has not been booked by telephone. You can get the telephone number of local Brighton & Hove operators from the Yellow Pages under Taxis and Private Hire vehicles.

A taxi information leaflet is available to download: Taxi Information [PDF 362kb]

Taxis

Brighton and Hove's licensed hackney carriage taxis are usually either a London type vehicle or saloon car with a large roof sign with the words TAXI and FOR HIRE on the front. Both types of vehicle have the council's logo and the words Licensed TAXI on the front doors as well as the licence number on the rear doors. A plate on the back of the taxi gives its licence number and drivers must display a council issued badge in the taxi. Remember these are the only vehicles which can stop and pick you up if you hail them in the street.

Private Hire cars

Private Hire cars are easily distinguishable from the Hackney Carriage style taxis. They are not white and have doors signs which say PRIVATE HIRE, PRIOR BOOKING ONLY and a telephone number you can call. A green plate on the back of the vehicle shows its licence number and the driver must display a council issued driver badge in the car. Remember, these cars cannot wait for passengers at taxi ranks or be hailed in the streets. Be wary if one stops for you if you have not booked it. It may not be insured to carry you.

Fares

The minimum taxi fare is £2.60 and it rises in 20p increments according to how far you travel. As a guide to what your journey may cost, the first mile will be £3.80 and each subsequent mile will be £2.20. Vehicles carrying 5 to 8 passengers are able to charge a higher fare equivelent to 1.5 times the normal fare. There are additional charges for hirings at night, on Sundays, on Public and Bank Holidays, at Christmas and the New Year, for extra passengers above four and for telephone prebookings. All the details are on the fare card in the vehicle. The last fare increase was in August 2010.

If you would like to see a copy of the most recent fare card, please click on the link below.

Fare card August 2010 [PDF 265kb]

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I become a Brighton and Hove licensed taxi driver?

It is recommended that you enrol at one the commercial knowledge schools and begin learning the Brighton and Hove knowledge. Once the learning process is well under way, you will need to complete an application form, undergo a medical examination, Police, and DVLA checks.  You will also need to achieve the Level 2 BTEC Award in Transporting Passengers by Taxi and Private Hire. This is arranged via the Hackney Carriage Office once application has been made.

You will also be required to pass the DSA Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Assessment. Information regarding fees and the telephone booking number can be found in the latest DSA information pack, available here: DSA Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Assessment Booklet [PDF477kb]

Once you have been deemed to be a fit and proper person, passed the Brighton and Hove knowledge tests and the routes test, you can receive a taxi driver licence.

A new drivers pack which provides all the necessary information and forms for becoming a taxi driver is available to download: New driver info pack [PDF 136kb]. Additionally, the new drivers application form is also available, Hackney Carriage Application Forms online.  Finally, all new drivers must learn the Hackney Carriage licensing conditions as part of the knowledge test: Licence conditions [PDF 42kb]  The information packs and forms are also available from the hackney carriage office, please call to receive copies.

How can I book a taxi or private hire car through an operator?
Call an operator, preferably one with an address in the Brighton & Hove area. The numbers are available in Yellow Pages under Taxis and private hire vehicles.

How do I make a complaint about a taxi or private hire driver?
Complaints must be made in writing, either by letter or email. You must include your name, which will not be disclosed to anybody and is used solely for recording and contact purposes. Please write or email the hackney carriage office setting out the cause of your complaint, including the date and time of the incident, the driver badge number and/or the plate number on the back (or rear doors) of the vehicle.

Contact details

Hackney Carriage Office,
Hove Town Hall
Norton Road
Hove  BN3 3BQ 

Telephone (01273) 294429

email: hco@brighton-hove.gov.uk