Hackney Carriage and Private Hire

The main difference between the two is that only a Hackney Carriage can ply for trade or be flagged down. The maximum fares are set by the Council. A private hire vehicle must be booked over the telephone or through the operator's office, and must not display the words 'taxi' or 'cab' on the vehicle.

The department issues Licences both for the vehicles and the drivers, and ensures that adequate insurance cover is held. High standards of safety are ensured, and complaints about overcharging or inefficiency, for example, are investigated. If you have cause for complaint, a form is available to download and return.

For details on licence fees, please see the link on the right.

If there has been a change of ownership of a hackney carriage or private hire vehicle you will need to notify us. A Notification of Change of Ownership form can be downloaded from the links on the right.

Any licensed vehicle which is involved in an accident must report the accident to the licensing authority within 72 hours. The Accident Reporting Form is available to download here.

Our current Hackney Carriage and Private Hire policies may be found by clicking the link to the right of this document.

Drivers are required to undertake a DSA driving Assessment prior to a licence being issued. Details about the driving assessment can be found at the link to the right.

For further information please contact the Licensing Team on 01789 260211 or by email at licensing@stratford-dc.gov.uk or by fax on 01789 260860.