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Taxi – Private Hire – Minicab : What is the difference?

TAXI’s (Hackney Carriage is synonymous with taxi): Only vehicles that are licensed by an empowered authority can legally describe themselves as a “taxi” and display such a sign. Taxis may ply for hire by waiting at a rank or by being hailed in the street. They may also be pre booked by telephone. The drivers are not allowed to tout (offer their services by approaching you) you must approach them in the first instance. Although they may pick up pre booked journeys from anywhere, they may only ply for hire in the area for which they are licensed, which is designated by a plate usually affixed to the rear of the vehicle. Both the drivers and vehicles are checked and approved by the authority and this usually includes checks by the police. There are regulations dealing with those applying for a taxi driver’s license that may have a criminal record. Taxi’s are fitted with a fare meter the tariffs of which are set by the licensing authority and apply within their area.

LICENSED PRIVATE HIRE: Generally these are subjected to the same licensing regulations as taxis but are not tariff controlled and are not usually fitted with a meter. All journeys must be pre booked. They are not allowed to ply for hire or accept fares by being approached in the street. Vehicle and drivers are subject to similar examinations as taxi drivers.

MINICABS: Minicabs are effectively unlicensed transport and usually only operate in major cities. They have been described by the Metropolitan Police as “ the most dangerous form of public transport ”. (Source: London Evening Standard). Women in particular should be wary of minicabs as in London alone several rapes a week are reported with minicab association. If you are touted then it will invariably be a minicab. Doormen at clubs often have a vested financial incentive in calling up a minicab when you have requested a taxi. All licensed vehicles will have a plate attached usually at the rear and inside the vehicle. Although there are some reputable minicab operators, since at present there is neither licensing regulations nor any checks upon the roadworthiness of the vehicles or background of the drivers, it is difficult to select one with confidence. The disreputable invariably charge extortionate fees for relatively short journeys. Most customers use minicabs in the belief that their charges are less, which is invariably a myth

I just got a tad bored and started surfing the net when I saw this Advert..Im sure the Company is a very reputable company but I found it odd that they were laying into the Minicab trade as I thought a minicab and a Private hire Vehicle were technically one and the same thing...anyways...Whats your take on it...maybe its one of your adverts?

There are no more minicabs about, only licensed London Private Hire vehicles.

Good answer... so clear and distinct that im not sure my question was answered or not...

There used to be minicabs in London, basically they were saloon cars with unlicensed drivers running legally with dubious London legislation [I ‘am sure Mr Sussex will put me right]They were similar to private hire in the way that they could be booked i.e. telephone bookings. However touts abused the system.
The term Minicab will now mean a pirate cab service that is unlicensed.
Does this help to clarify the statement?

How can a minicab have been illegal before the legislation for PH was in place? (Provided it wasnt illegally plying?)

CC

since when does that stop people using the word c*b

Whats really needed 1 a single tier plate and test, etc

Do away with the crazy indecision and fudge of hackney/private hire

I wait at the school with every shape and colour and type of vehicle from X reg 406s to 08 E7's with every combination of "PH with a rooflight" to "any age/any colour" hacks, how can joe punter be expected to know whats taxi and what isnt as he tries to flag down either a PH with a rooflight or TX4 from another LA passing through ( it says taxi so it must be a taxi)..........

Its a mess

1 Plate "PCV 1" - all can take flag downs
2 50% of all plates issued to be WAVs
3 All to have meters fitted
4 Daily rota (or colour coding of plates) to rank up

And so on....

Why............I Dont ever want to hack...nor do I ever want a meter....If it aint burst dont fix it.

what difference would being a "PCV1" make?

for me, none, id carry on doing what i do as i do it now, no-one can be forced to rank-up, maybe ranks would only be available for cars woth rooflights, you could leave yours off if you dont want to rank or take flag downs

it could be a totally flexible system