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Starting up help support and advice
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Author:  TrueBlue [ Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Starting up help support and advice
Hi there guys this is m first post so go easy!

I am Scott 26 from Southend in Essex I have a full UK license since I was 17 I have been in sales and marketing most of my teens and early 20s however I do love driving and looking at a total change of direction.
My dad is a London Taxi Driver with full knowledge and has been for around 20 years now so I guess it kinda in my blood! anyway I am looking to start of on my own doing Airport runs and Events (football weddings etc...) Thing is I have no idea where to start what license I will need etc....

Setting up I think is my big hurdle with my sales and marketing background generating work should not be too much of an issue (I hope!)

As I understand it I will need a Private Hire License? and obviously I will need a motor - I am thinking a 7 seater so I can take more passengers!

The only problem I have is I have a crap credit rating but I can raise about 6-7k to start me off - would you say this is enough?

I just need to know what I need to do and in what order - any advice would be really really helpful

Thanks guys

Scott :D
Author:  MR T [ Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
put the money down on a very big insurance policy on your dad... before you tell him you're going to drive as a private hire driver.
Author:  toots [ Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:41 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
MR T wrote:
put the money down on a very big insurance policy on your dad... before you tell him you're going to drive as a private hire driver.


:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

That aside the first thing I would do is get my license before I do anything else so it's a trip to the licensing department or check online for details :D
Author:  TrueBlue [ Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
MR T wrote:
put the money down on a very big insurance policy on your dad... before you tell him you're going to drive as a private hire driver.


Yeah thanks for that lol

Any REAL advice though
Author:  MR T [ Thu Jun 07, 2012 7:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
TrueBlue wrote:
MR T wrote:
put the money down on a very big insurance policy on your dad... before you tell him you're going to drive as a private hire driver.


Yeah thanks for that lol

Any REAL advice though

read the local newspaper and see who your competition would be... speak to private hire drivers locally.... see how much work is available.... checkout insurance prices. and then really do your homework regarding which vehicles to use.... none of that costs you money

let your eyes be the judge... and the money.. the last thing to leave your hand.
Author:  Dusty Bin [ Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
If it's long-distance work only you're doing I would imagine it's quite a difficult market to get into, particularly in the current climate, and pricing is likely to be quite competitive.

Insurance is likely to be quite expensive as well at only 26.

You'd probably need to spend quite a lot on marketing as well if starting from scratch, but clearly with your background you've probably got a head start in some ways, but I suspect a lot of it would come down to hard cash.

Your council's website may have stuff about the relevant private hire licensing requirements, and maybe even the relevant forms online.

Remember that with the licensing fees (driver, vehicle and operator), possibly a medical and CRB check, then that's another few hundred quid to budget for as well.

It always worries me when potential cab drivers say they enjoy driving though, because they'll possibly end up hating it :lol:
Author:  Dusty Bin [ Thu Jun 07, 2012 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
There's information available on this page here.

http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200094/ ... _hire_cars

Looks like you need something called a restricted private hire drivers' licence, because for normal PH (minicabs) it seems you need a knowledge (topographical) test but if doing airports etc only you can go for the restricted licence option.

By the way, the headings are totally confusing - they seem to use the term "Hackney Carriage" to refer both to taxis and PH, which is totally wrong, and I've never seen any council do that before. It's usually the word 'taxi' they use generically to refer to HCs and PH, which is confusing enough as it is ](*,)
Author:  simonsmitch [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:59 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
Dusty Bin wrote:
There's information available on this page here.

http://www.southend.gov.uk/info/200094/ ... _hire_cars

Looks like you need something called a restricted private hire drivers' licence, because for normal PH (minicabs) it seems you need a knowledge (topographical) test but if doing airports etc only you can go for the restricted licence option.

By the way, the headings are totally confusing - they seem to use the term "Hackney Carriage" to refer both to taxis and PH, which is totally wrong, and I've never seen any council do that before. It's usually the word 'taxi' they use generically to refer to HCs and PH, which is confusing enough as it is ](*,)


In Stoke on Trent our badge covers both Private Hire and Hackney Carriage .


As for advice, you need to be carefull, drivers all around the country are struggling to make a living, high insurance and high fuel prices are not helping. You need to be realistic on what you want to do. PM me if you need any additional advice and good luck
Author:  mileage [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
simonsmitch wrote:
Dusty Bin wrote:
drivers all around the country are struggling to make a living


Any idea of the average take home pay for a private hire driver? Reason I ask is that I'm possibly going into this line of work although there are some 'complexities' that I need to get clear in my head - pay being one of them as the company haven't said what the average salary is plus I got costs to pay out to get into the trade etc.
Author:  simonsmitch [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 2:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
mileage wrote:
simonsmitch wrote:
Dusty Bin wrote:
drivers all around the country are struggling to make a living


Any idea of the average take home pay for a private hire driver? Reason I ask is that I'm possibly going into this line of work although there are some 'complexities' that I need to get clear in my head - pay being one of them as the company haven't said what the average salary is plus I got costs to pay out to get into the trade etc.



This is a massive question and the only answer you can get is from local cabbies in your area, i read that a London Cabbie could earn around £64000 per year, i wish i could see a third of that. Alot of this depends on you, how many hours you put in and how you are with customers (tips and repeat business) I think you should think long and hard before making this venture, speak to your LO acquire your badge and rent a car from a local firm, that way you can see yourself what you can potentially earn, then once you think you are happy go out and spend your 7 grand on a vehicle that suits your requirements. There is nothing stopping you buying a vehicle using it with a local PH firm and then getting your ops license and operating the two around each other until your business is making plenty of money, also if you have any work in Stoke on Trent send them my way wink wink
Author:  toots [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 3:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
Don't forget to do a proper business plan, don't fall into the trap of I need earn X amount and I'll be alright, if it's worth doing do it properly :wink:
Author:  Doom [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 5:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
You'll need both a PH drivers badge licence & an operators licence, you will then need plenty of speed and amphetamines to keep you awake 24 hrs a day as airports don't tend to run one after another, one goes at 4am the next one is 5pm etc,

tbh Scott without wanting to p on your parade, by the time you pay out for a nice vehicle (Skoda Superb Estate) and find 6k for insurance and whatever fuel you use you'll be better of in Asda stocking shelves, especially if like me you have other ppl doing it for stupid ratio's, last one I did was in 1991 and I've no intent on going again unless it's on the meter or a quote I'm happy with, which right now would make me 1.5x more expensive than the slave cars do it for, i.e £125 vs £50, meter is £160,

Despite what you may here this whole job is now finished, it's ok for blokes like me with small outgoings but a nipper with a mountain to find is just asking for outside prison.
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
are ASDA setting on, im tall so the top shelves are easy for me

Scott, my 19 year old son takes home £325+ per week for 5 night shifts (no wife, no kids, no rent/mortgage to pay) , im trying to get a job there, my daughters on £30K and her fellers on £25K - all 3 at the same place (food process factory)
Author:  Sussex [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
mileage wrote:
Any idea of the average take home pay for a private hire driver? .

We don't discuss that on TDO. [-X
Author:  wannabeeahack [ Sat Jun 09, 2012 11:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Starting up help support and advice
Sussex wrote:
mileage wrote:
Any idea of the average take home pay for a private hire driver? .

We don't discuss that on TDO. [-X


15 years ago i could take £250 in a good shift friday - 8am-7pm, have a break 9pm-2am

and maybesame again/bit more mon-thursday part time

not now
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