Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Licensing
Licensing
Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Licensing
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, the Licensing Section undertakes the licensing of Hackney Carriages and Hackney Carriage Drivers and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators.
Licensing Objectives
The Council has set objectives in relation to the licensing of Drivers, Vehicles and Operators. They are: -
- Ensuring passengers have safe journeys at a transparent price;
- Ensuring vehicles are safe, accessible and reducing their impact on the environment;
- Ensuring drivers are safe and know what they are doing;
- To provide a quality service to the public within the Borough.
In this Borough, there are two types of vehicle licensed - Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles. They are easily distinguished from each other by the fact that Hackney Carriages are all purpose built 'London style' Cabs (you may know them as 'black cabs' even though there are an array of different colours!).
Private Hire Vehicles are usually 'saloon type' vehicles but include minibuses with up to and including 8 passenger seats.
Hackney Carriage Vehicles display a white plate on the front and rear of the vehicle and Private Hire Vehicles display a yellow plate. Both types of vehicle display a small plate of the relevant colour inside the vehicle. View the Hackney Carriage fares.
The basic difference between the two types of vehicle is that Hackney Carriages can be 'flagged down' off the street or on a rank and Private Hire Vehicles must be pre-booked through an Operator. If a Private Hire Driver accepts a fare off the street without it being pre-booked, he is liable for prosecution. It is also important to note that anyone taking a journey in a Private Hire Vehicle which has been 'flagged down' is not insured for the journey.
Both types of vehicle can only be driven by a licensed Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver.
Driver and Vehicle Applications
To apply for a Private Hire/Hackney Carriage Driver Badge please go to page www.tameside.gov.uk/licensing/taxi/application
To apply for a Private Hire Vehicle, please complete the Private Hire Vehicle Application Form 29.61 KB 
and contact the Licensing Office on the contact number below. An officer will ensure that the requested vehicle is suitable.
Before we can accept a Private Hire Vehicle Application, you must provide -
- Valid Vehicle Insurance
- Log Book
- Payment
If you do not have any of the above documents available, please contact the Licensing Office where other options are available