Taxi Driver Online

Some up and coming businessman has jumped on the band wagon and found a new business in the hack taxi plate rental world

Taxi management plate rentals, he arranges all deals with the driver/ renter on behalf of the plate owner, with of course a cut/commision for himself, all weekly plate rent and fees are paid to him, with no worry to the plate owner of not getting paid on time, takes commission weekly, then the basic cost is forwarded to the plate owner

why didn't I think of that, is this legal, your thoughts.

More than likely legal, but if owners are stupid enough to give someone a cut of their rentals than more fool them.

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IDFIMH

Is it actually legal to rent out a plate in the first place

I think you might find that the only thing being rented out is the vehicle. The license will always remain in the name of the person to whom it is issued.

Regards

JD

The renter only rents the plate and then provides the vehicle himself the stipulation is that the license and the vehicle must be in the same name, which causes some confusion, unless drawn up by a solicititor as the plate owner could lay claim to the vehicle and vice versa.it would be much simpler if all owners drove vehicles.

I take it you believe the original post to mean that in some cases plates are being rented and not the cab? I don't know of a legitimate legal situation where it would be possible to rent a plate for the simple reasons you have given, mainly because of the third party having to register their involvement with the licensing authority? An informal arrangement might be entered into but that's unofficial and would place the license holder in danger of losing his license?

Perhaps Pete could clarify his original post and inform us if he actually meant plates were being hired and not the vehicle?

There was a situation in Scotland were a plate, or plates were being leased unofficially but I have yet to see a situation where plates can be leased officially?

Regards

JD

It is illegal for a license holder not to inform the licensing authority of any involvement in the license by a third party.

Before any such licence is granted a requisition for the same, in such form as the commissioners from time to time provide for that purpose, shall be made and signed by the proprietor or one of the proprietors of the hackney carriage in respect of which such licence is applied for; and in
every such requisition shall be truly stated the name and surname and place of abode of the person applying for such licence, and of every proprietor or part proprietor of such carriage, or person concerned, either solely or in partnership with any other person, in the keeping, employing, or letting to hire of such carriage; and any person who, on applying for such licence, states in such requisition the name of any person who is not a proprietor or part proprietor of such carriage, or who is not concerned as aforesaid in the keeping, employing, or letting to hire of such carriage, and also any person who wilfully omits to specify truly in such requisition as aforesaid the name of any person who is a proprietor or part proprietor of such carriage, or who is concerned as aforesaid in the keeping, employing, or letting to hire of such carriage, shall be liable to a penalty not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale].

Amendment Maximum penalty increased by the Criminal Justice Act 1967, s 92(1), Sch 3, Part I, and converted to a level on the standard scale by the Criminal Justice Act 1982, ss 37, 38, 46.

In every such licence shall be specified the name and surname and place of abode of every person who is a proprietor or part proprietor of the hackney carriage in respect of which such licence is granted, or who is concerned, either solely or in partnership with any other person, in the keeping, employing, or letting to hire of any such carriage, and also the number of such licence which shall correspond with the number to be painted or marked on the plates to be fixed on such carriage, together with such other particulars as the commissioners think fit.

Regards

JD

I think there was a case in Hull regarding renting of plates and drivers supplying their own vehicles

CC

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Think of how stupid the average person is, and realize half of them are stupider than that.
George Carlin

It happens in Wycombe

[quote="captain cab"]I think there was a case in Hull regarding renting of plates and drivers supplying their own vehicles

There was indeed a case in Hull and it could happen anywhere that only the plate is rented out, if the owner of the vehicle asked the Council to put the licence in his name they could not legally refuse to do so.
What happens is you as avehicle owner rent only the plate, although the V5 displays your name and not the plate owners name, the council accept a letter from the plate owner saying that although you are the registered keeper of the vehicle he is the owner, complicated or what.

The bloke is a middle man, he only does plates for hire, finds the best deal for the plate owner including his commission to which he will reap weekly, all payments go into his pot, he then forwards the weekly/ monthly rent due to the plate owner

I am not aware of him dealing with the motors, but infact thats all I know about whats going on

I was only in the supermarket today with my wife when I came across a plate owner who just sold up this week, he had been approached by the same bloke that he was also doing commission selling of plates for the best price, and that he had business contacts of businesses waiting to buy plates as an investment sideline

This blokes plate has just gone to an Icecream firm, nothing like striking whilst the iron is hot, or in this case the sun.

A court case?

Regards

JD

Unofficially?

Regards

JD

But they don't have to re-license the vehicle.

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IDFIMH

It would assist this debate if you or anyone else could supply details of the case? As it stands the law in England and Wales is quite straightforward in respect of hackney carriage proprietor licenses and the vehicle which such a license is attached.



Officially, there is no such thing as a plate being rented out. The plate is attached to the vehicle and it is the vehicle which carries the license in the name of the person or persons owning the vehicle. Details of all those involved in owning the vehicle must by law be stated in the licensing application. Therefore anyone not complying with the mandatory requirement as I have already published is breaking the law and liable to a fine.

If you know of a council who doesn't require a third party with an interest in a licensed vehicle to be registered, please let us know. I'm sure it will make a good story.

Regards

JD