Taxi Driver Online

First of all hello to all members , I have been enjoying the forum and found it very useful as I am currently going through process of getting a PHV licence in Liverpool at the moment .
My question is - Is there a maximum allowed age of a car for PHV work? Is it different between different councils? Starting from scratch seems a very expensive business but I am still going to give it ago after all I'm earning less than 350 a fortnight in current job so surely I can do better even if I have to work longer hours (which im not scared of) .
I was originally planning to rent a car from taxi company but a mate tells me that is about £260 a week all in .
Cheapest insurance quote I have got (for a Ford Focus 2002 diesel estate) was about £2300 but i have only been driving a couple of years (late starter) . Very expensive yes but surely still cheaper than paying £1040 a month to taxi operators .
If anyone else has recently started out I would love to know which insurance company gave you the best price and if your in Liverpool would you recommend any particular firms ( I live in South Liverpool) .
Thanks for taking time to read this and for any replies .

Do yourself a favour mate.... rent one of the firm's cars for a couple of weeks before committing yourself.......

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Justice for the 96. It has only taken 27 years...........repeat the same lies for 27 years and the truth sounds strange to people!

every areas different, i can plate a 6 year old car with a new plate, and can run 1 till its 10 years old, same for a hack unless its a "purpose built" when i can "new plate" up to 10 years old.

get yr badge, start with that, in fact if you can convince a car owner you are serious they may pay for the badge, but hold you till the costs are recovered, dont forget it can take 3 months from applying to getting your badge

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

I agree with Mr T. Try it first you might not like it. If you're in Liverpool having you got to get a Btec first before you can have a badge?

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

If you already have a car that can be licensed, then do that.

If not then drive someone else's for a month or so to see how much you can earn, before you sign up for a new motor.

As for insurance, go to the front page of TDO and ring every insurance firm for a price. Even if it takes all day you could save more than a weeks money.

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IDFIMH

Thanks for all the advice , think I will take your advice and rent one first then , I could then work out how much I could earn minus the operators cut for rental and if I could afford to insure a car on the possible earnings.
If not I suppose I could rent a little longer and save up some dosh.
I know a couple of drivers who come in to where I work every day and they have talked about having to do some kind of new tourism test just to prove they are courteous to passengers . They are less than impressed as have been driving almost 30 years ! I thought this was just a 1 day class , isn't a BTEC something much more long term ?
I really hope not as there is one stumbling block after another and I bet this BTEC thing would be another few hundred quid .
There is no mention of a BTEC in the Liverpool City Council website , but i don't doubt you as I see one of you guys is living on the Wirral .

Thats Toots, shes an dominatrix in wallseley

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

You'll need to do the VRQ (BTec) if applying for a private hire driver licence in Sefton, Knowsley, Wirral or St Helens. The only 'soft' option on Merseyside is to get a licence from Liverpool Council, as they don't require it.

I'd recommend you do the Btec however, the Government pay for all your training and it will be a great introduction to the industry, with modules in safety, route planning, lifting and loading, customer care, legislation, disibility awarenes etc etc. You also get to meet lots of other drivers (old and new) whilst in the classroom. Delta's new drivers have all found it quite useful.

Liverpool council will be the quick, easy option for getting a PH badge but you'll only be able to get work from PH offices based within Liverpool. Before committing to a badge, visit a few taxi offices, in Liverpool, Knowsley and Sefton, and decide which company you want to work with. Then apply for the appropriate licence, whatever that takes. Most companies will help you right through this process. Good luck!

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Don't knock it, 'til you try it....

Well said Deltastaff do you get commission for newbies

The VRQ ain't free unless it's done with an NVQ

There is assistance available for the cost of the VRQ if you are unemployed (check the local job centre).

I know Sefton require the NVQ within 12 months of starting and the VRQ before you get your badge. The wirral only require the VRQ but most drivers do the NVQ so they don't have to pay the £150 for the VRQ. Not sure about the other areas except they need a VRQ.

Wannabe pay attention to my posts I've moved but I do still work in the Wirral and I never lived in Wallasey

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Thanks very much to everyone for the info regards the BTEC , I live in South Liverpool (penny lane) so I would be applying for a Liverpool City Council licence . (I have been doing the practice routes of their website for the street knowledge test )
Thank god for that its more money I can do without spending .
I got to say this is a great site and everyone seems very helpful , I'm glad I joined now .

wallasleys the posh end int it, bit like alderley edge?

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Of all the things ive lost, i miss my mind the most

Just keep praying they don't follow suit of the surrounding areas until you have your badge

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

Wallasey is far from posh it's full of tuppence 'alf penny snobs. The posh areas of the Wirral are Caldy, Lower Heswall, West Kirby, Hoylake etc

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Note to self: Just because it pops into my head does NOT mean it should come out of my mouth!!

I didn't know Etc was a posh area of the Wirral!!

Well ..... you learn something every day.

This could be a new question for the NVQ syllabus.

Which area of the country is the village of Etc in?

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Kind regards,

Brummie Cabbie.

Type a message, post your news,
Disagree with other members' views;
But please, do have some decorum,
When debating on the TDO Forum.

Yea I'd better get the street knowledge test out the way asap