Taxi Driver Online :: View topic - Questions from a soon to be driver.

I have just past the local knowledge test in my town now I am going to apply for the operators licence as Id rather work for myself.

I am looking for information on everything about starting out as a taxi driver:

1, which type of car is best to get? or a 6 seater van?

2, which meter is best to buy?

3, is card payment a good idea to sort out and if it is which system is cheapest, best to use?

Thanks for your reply's Lads,

I live in a small town in the Highlands, (Fort William) I might do the odd run to Glasgow airport but I imagine that wont be very often, been looking at buying a Skoda or possibly a Passat, its chocco with tourists here so I will need a big boot for sure, I will need an operators licence, mores the pity, another £500,

I cant speak to a local fitter/supplier about a meter because there isn't one haha, the nearest place I can get a meter fitted is Inverness which is 76 miles away. I have been looking at different ones online and I have seen 1/2 in local taxis, not sure I fancy the type that goes over your rear view mirror, so just wondering which of the others is best?

Guessing card payment units just Bluetooth to your phone?

I will need an operators licence, mores the pity, another £500,

its chocco with tourists here so I will need a big boot for sure,

Indeed, Sussex - booking office licence in Scotland not required for one-man bands (like me :-o

) and the operator's licence is the plate.

The 2009 Order provides that, from 16th November 2009, a licence is required for the
use of premises for the carrying on of a business which consists to any extent of the
taking of bookings, by any means of communication, from members of the public for
the hire of a relevant vehicle.

“Relevant Vehicle” is defined as a vehicle in respect of which a taxi licence or a private
hire car licence has been granted in terms of Section 10 of the Civic Government
(Scotland) Act 1982 and that licence is in effect.

No licence is required where the number of relevant vehicles in respect of which
bookings are taken does not at any time exceed 3.

Because I will be working for myself with my own car I believe i need a operators licence AND a drivers licence.

Author:	themaninblack [ Sat Aug 23, 2025 12:42 pm ]
Post subject:	Questions from a soon to be driver.
I have just past the local knowledge test in my town now I am going to apply for the operators licence as Id rather work for myself. I am looking for information on everything about starting out as a taxi driver: 1, which type of car is best to get? or a 6 seater van? 2, which meter is best to buy? 3, is card payment a good idea to sort out and if it is which system is cheapest, best to use? Hope someone in the know can help me on my way Cheers in advance.

Author:	edders23 [ Sat Aug 23, 2025 12:58 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
First it very much depends where you are located as some areas hackney is unrestricted and in some PH works better. If hackney you shouldn't need an operators license As for a meter well again you need to get it installed and that might dictate the make Vehicles are a very big topic and you need to have a clear idea of the types of work you are going to undertake before anyone can advise you so tell us a bit about yourself and your plans and then we can give advice.

Author:	Sussex [ Sat Aug 23, 2025 6:16 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
themaninblack wrote: I have just past the local knowledge test in my town now I am going to apply for the operators licence as Id rather work for myself. I am looking for information on everything about starting out as a taxi driver: 1, which type of car is best to get? or a 6 seater van? Depends on what kind of work you want to do. If it's airport work then get an estate or multiseater. If it's exec work then get a Merc. If it's normal taxi/PH work then get what the rest of your local trade is driving. Quote: 2, which meter is best to buy? They are all much of a muchness. Go and speak to a local supplier/fitter. Quote: 3, is card payment a good idea to sort out and if it is which system is cheapest, best to use? Card readers are essential if you want to eat. I use iZettle, and you can use a card reader or off your mobile. Again to me they are all much of a muchness.

Author:	themaninblack [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 8:25 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
Thanks for your reply's Lads, I live in a small town in the Highlands, (Fort William) I might do the odd run to Glasgow airport but I imagine that wont be very often, been looking at buying a Skoda or possibly a Passat, its chocco with tourists here so I will need a big boot for sure, I will need an operators licence, mores the pity, another £500, I cant speak to a local fitter/supplier about a meter because there isn't one haha, the nearest place I can get a meter fitted is Inverness which is 76 miles away. I have been looking at different ones online and I have seen 1/2 in local taxis, not sure I fancy the type that goes over your rear view mirror, so just wondering which of the others is best? Guessing card payment units just Bluetooth to your phone?

Author:	grandad [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 8:39 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
themaninblack wrote: Thanks for your reply's Lads, I live in a small town in the Highlands, (Fort William) I might do the odd run to Glasgow airport but I imagine that wont be very often, been looking at buying a Skoda or possibly a Passat, its chocco with tourists here so I will need a big boot for sure, I will need an operators licence, mores the pity, another £500, I cant speak to a local fitter/supplier about a meter because there isn't one haha, the nearest place I can get a meter fitted is Inverness which is 76 miles away. I have been looking at different ones online and I have seen 1/2 in local taxis, not sure I fancy the type that goes over your rear view mirror, so just wondering which of the others is best? Guessing card payment units just Bluetooth to your phone? If you are going to be working on your own do you need an operators license in Scotland?

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Author:	edders23 [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 10:12 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
I have had mirror meters fitted in my cars when I was still working and they are fine. i never found it an issue once you get used to the meter display being part of the rear view.

Author:	Sussex [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
Quote: I will need an operators licence, mores the pity, another £500, Just for clarity, when you say operator's license, do you mean a vehicle license, or a license to take bookings? If it's the latter, then if someone up your way doesn't say otherwise, you only need one of them if you run a firm with 4 or more vehicles.

Author:	Sussex [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 4:47 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
Quote: its chocco with tourists here so I will need a big boot for sure, Get an estate car.

Author:	StuartW [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 6:12 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
Indeed, Sussex - booking office licence in Scotland not required for one-man bands (like me ) and the operator's licence is the plate.

Author:	Sussex [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 6:46 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
StuartW wrote: Indeed, Sussex - booking office licence in Scotland not required for one-man bands (like me ) and the operator's licence is the plate. And that's the same for PHVs?

Author:	StuartW [ Mon Aug 25, 2025 10:49 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
Yes, Sussex - doesn't matter whether it's HC/PHV, or both This is from Aberdeenshire Council's bumph on it - it's all about the definition of 'relevant vehicles', which are either/or. Quote: The 2009 Order provides that, from 16th November 2009, a licence is required for the use of premises for the carrying on of a business which consists to any extent of the taking of bookings, by any means of communication, from members of the public for the hire of a relevant vehicle. Quote: “Relevant Vehicle” is defined as a vehicle in respect of which a taxi licence or a private hire car licence has been granted in terms of Section 10 of the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 and that licence is in effect. Quote: No licence is required where the number of relevant vehicles in respect of which bookings are taken does not at any time exceed 3.

Author:	themaninblack [ Fri Aug 29, 2025 9:02 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
Because I will be working for myself with my own car I believe i need a operators licence AND a drivers licence. Highland Council OPERATOR’S LICENCE AND DRIVER’S LICENCE The vehicle and the driver each require to be separately licensed. The licence for the vehicle is referred to in these notes as an “Operator’s” Licence and each vehicle operated as a Taxi or a Private Hire Car requires a separate licence. The holder of an “Operator’s” Licence must also obtain a Taxi or Private Hire Car Driver’s licence in order to drive the vehicle to which his operator’s licence relates.

Author:	Sussex [ Fri Aug 29, 2025 10:30 am ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
The confusion arises due to booking offices in England being called operators, whereas in Scotland it relates to vehicle licenses. So you will need a Scottish operators license, but not the Scottish equivalent of an English operator’s license. Clear as mud.

Author:	StuartW [ Fri Aug 29, 2025 6:05 pm ]
Post subject:	Re: Questions from a soon to be driver.
TheManInBlack wrote: Because I will be working for myself with my own car I believe i need a operators licence AND a drivers licence. It's irrelevant whether you're working for yourself or not - a licensed car ALWAYS requires a vehicle licence (plate) AND a driver's licence (badge). (As indeed the stuff you quote from Highland Council says...) The issue is whether or not you need a booking office licence - if it's only you then you don't need one. But if you had a business with 10 cars (say), or if you worked for a business with 10 cars, then a booking office licence would be required. And, as Sussex states, the confusion often arises because an operator's licence in Scotland is a plate, while in England an opertator's licence is what we call a booking office licence in Scotland Which is why it's often better to use the informal terminology 'badge' and 'plate', because that helps avoid confusion.

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