Taxi Driver Online

Hi All

Currently live in Belfast and about to move due to partners work, not sure yet whether we are going to be in Scotland or England - does the law for working as a taxidriver differ much from one to the other. Also if i want to work as private hire do i have to sign up to a company and if so do they supply the meter roof sign etc and how much on average is the rent. Can i work on my own with a meter and roof sign and my telephone number once licenced? Anything else i should know - i do have my own MPV - is there an advantage to being public hire and is this status difficult to get? thanks and sorry I dont know all this been reading but easier to ask i think!

You need to find out where you are going to be based, and ask the local councils in that area. We have about 400 councils operating 400 different ways.

Basically taxi/PH work is the same the world over, the only difference is the level of standards, or in many cases the lack of standards.

You can work on your own driving a taxi or a PH, but with a PH you will need to have an operator's license for the area you vehicle and self are licensed in.

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IDFIMH

Thanks for that

Can you tell me a little more about operator licence - if i want to work on my own - we dont have that. Also if i sign up to a depot - what is rough cost and can i only work for them?

You will need one if operating a PH, but not a taxi.

Basically it's a license similar to a driver's license that will allow you to advertise and procure PH work for yourself.


Different areas = different firms = different prices = different rules i.e. back to the 400 scenario.

If you work for a PH firm expect to pay more than £100 a week. Will they let you do private work? Some do, some don't.

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IDFIMH

It will be easier to help when you know which area you will be working from

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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 again

I know it sounds stupid to say I dont know where we are going to be - its on the border! Here we pay £125 a week for one of the bigger PH firms but they have so many drivers on the books that its hard to make a living. Some guys do work for smaller firms or on their own but then have to rely on word of mouth and even with regular customers they dont take taxis often enough. Had read on here about click a cab which seems to offer work if you had a licence but someone said if they were offering to pass on bookings they need their own licence so this may be dodgy?

The Borders a Big area...half of its under english law and the other half under Scottish law and with the exception of Carlisle there is not much more than large towns, small towns, or villages..unless of course your talking about the Welsh border and thats another thing completley.

Nice as the scenery is around the Borders its a bit of a Backwater Known more for its low wages and low population and few jobs...If its a living your after have you thought about shelf filling at Tescos..no joking!!

Theres no work in Carlisle.....the jobs f*cked

Lots in Galashiels though, especially if you give 30% discount!

CC

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

You're bad You'll have Skippy on your case threatening to pay you a visit

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

The whole areas f*cked...same amount of people as there used to be living here..maybe more..just none of them with any cash to spend

Its as bad as I can recall.

In Scotland you also need an operators licence for a hack

Don't bother coming here either.... you won't be received with open arms

Thanks to that last member for the welcome! - I have been a taxi driver for 15 years - life here is tough as it is elsewhere - but as wife's job pays well and company needs her to move then i dont have much as an option as my job is mobile - just looking for some info on here - and help where possible....

You can come here, I am in need of a driver.

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Grandad,