Taxi Driver Online

hope someone out there can help, i have been reading these forums for the last couple of weeks and found them very helpful and informative. i am currently in the process of setting up as a private hire service. my plan is to run a 7 seater and a high end motor (merc) mainly for airport runs. I used to work in hotel management and still have lots of contacts in the business where i can get quite a bit of work, my problem is i did not want the vehicles to be signwritten (executive service). i spoke to my local council and they were rather vague but said it may be possible if i make an application to the commitee, however since then i have had some information regarding "restricted psv operator", if i have understood it correctly i can run 2 vehicles without any signage whatsoever and without any intervention of my local council. this sounds very easy so what is the catch? the main reason i am favouring psv is because of the driver issue (ie, not having to have a ph license). hope someone out there can help!!!!!

Approaching your local authority stating your business is for executive PH work might achieve you some kind of dispensation.

I dont know much about this restricted route.

CC

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

You will have to become a PSV operator, and you can't have more than two discs.

You also will come under VOSA who IMO have a lot more clout than your local council, and you will not be able to advertise as anything other than a small bus.

So if you have an advert offering the services of a taxi or PH, then you will have trading standards on your back.

In my experience the only folks using this service are the lower end of the market who don't like the idea of high standards. And I think you will find most councils allow a PH vehicle to operate with no signage if they offer high class work.

I also think you should have drivers with a council check, and a council knowledge, as not all work from hotels goes to the airport.

But the choice is yours.

_________________
IDFIMH

I have a couple of cars that are private hire licensed but because I use them mainly for executive work I wrote to the licensing officer asking for dispensation from displaying the plate on the back of the car. I now have a letter from them that I hand to anyone stopping me that states that as long as the plate is in the car (the boot) I am ok. I do have the smaller stick on plate in the front window. But no other signs are on the car.

_________________
Grandad,

I would be surprised if many councils don't offer a similar option.

_________________
IDFIMH

.


Not sure what evidence you have for that statement Sussex, there are a couple of ops in my area who use the restricted path mainly because of the stupid and petty restrictions of LA's in a corner of the NWest where there are SIX!! different LA's all with different rules etc.
The restricted licence is easier to get (but only because you do not need the transport manager qualification and slightly less finance) you would need to around £5000 of available funds, but is otherwise just as strict with regards to vehicle maintainance etc. It is usually a good idea to stick to the "more than 15 miles " rules to keep away for local bus registration problems.

In any system you will always have the cowboys and should be the MAIN task of the authorities to tackle these problems instead of having a go at ops doing a good job with the petty games they play just because you are easier to find, this seems to happen both with LA officers and VOSA officers.

_________________
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

My own eyes is a start, but if in your manor the folks aren't the pits, then great. I just wish it was the same down here.

_________________
IDFIMH

Please do us all a favour and report what you see to VOSA, you can do it anonymous if you prefer.
It really does make me when people are willing to slag off something they think they see but are not willing to do anything about it, why let them keep getting away with it. You will need patience but it can be gratifying when you see the scumbags get what they deserve.

_________________
you can check out any time you like, but you can never leave.

Oh I do, and along with the better side of the minibus trade we are making progress.

But when you can take a badge from one vehicle to another, and drivers of vehicles less than 8 punters don't need PSV licenses, then IMO it's a near impossible job for the VOSA enforcement team.

_________________
IDFIMH

thankyou for all your replies. i have been in touch with my la and they have confirmed they do have a couple of unplated p/h cars, however they have been in business for a couple of years and can prove they have built up an executive/ business customer portfolio. regarding restricted psv do you have to have a constant fund of £5000 or is this just at the outset. getting close to wanting to start now and could do with some advice, anybody got any ideas ?

I think that you will need to have access to this £5000 at all times. It is there so that you can cover any problems you have with your vehicles.

_________________
Grandad,

Why can't you just go and license as a PH?

_________________
IDFIMH

Well the LA in question clearly can't be bothered.

So you need to build up a clientele before you go unplated, but you can't because they won't let you without a clientele.

Cartel, anyone?

_________________
Taxi Driver Online
www.taxi-driver.co.uk