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Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing

Please note: If you need to see a member of the Licensing section, they will only be available between the hours of 10.00am and 12.00 noon and 2.00pm and 4.00pm.

Surrey Heath Borough Council licenses Hackney Carriages (Taxis) and Private Hire vehicles (Mini-cabs, executive and chauffeur driven) based in the borough.

Although the public can use both vehicles, there are differences in the way that they are operated and licensed.

With people enjoying social events as the holiday season gets underway, the council's licensing team is urging residents to make sure that any taxi they get into is genuine.

There are four easy ways to check you are getting into a licensed taxi:

• Does the vehicle have an illuminiated light that is clearly visible - either on top of the taxi or inside the vehicle?
• Is there a local authority licence plate displayed on the vehicle rear?
• Is there a current licence number displayed inside the taxi?
• Does the driver have a current local authority identity badge?

For further details of these differences and details of licences that have to be obtained to undertake hackney carriage or private hire work, please use the link below.

Hackney Carriage Licensing

Hackney Carriages mainly work from public ranks, the public can flag them down on the street when the driver is applying for hire, and they can also be pre-booked.

• Information and application forms to drive a Hackney Carriage
• Register of current Hackney Carriage Drivers Opens in a new window
• Information and application forms to License a Hackney Carriage Vehicle
• Register of current Hackney Carriage Vehicles Opens in a new window

Private Hire Licensing

Private Hire vehicles are only available by prior booking and through a private hire operator's office. They are not allowed on 'taxi' ranks and cannot be used to ply for hire. Members of the public cannot flag them down.

• Information and application forms to drive a Private Hire Vehicle
• Register of current Private Hire Drivers Opens in a new window
• Information and application forms to License a Private Hire Vehicle
• Register of current Private Hire Vehicles Opens in a new window

Private Hire Operators

Any person making Private Hire Vehicles available for hire requires a Private Hire Operators licence. This includes advertising private hire services and handing out business cards.

• Information and application forms for a Private Hire Operators Licence
• Register of current Private Hire Operators Opens in a new window

Guidelines

• Plate Exemption Guidelines Opens in a new window
• Vehicle Age Guideline Opens in a new window
• Previous Convictions Guidelines Opens in a new window

Further Information

• Tariff Chart Opens in a new window
• Fees Opens in a new window
• Smoke Free England Opens in a new window