Taxi Driver Online

Hi,

This is my first post so please excuse me if this is in the wrong section

I have just recived my Hackney Carriage & Private Vehicle Drivers Licence Application Pack and would like some advice.

After some long thinking about this, a change of job is what i need.

I guess many of these questions (how long is a piece of string) will come into it. Hackney or Private? Will be working in the Mole Valley District in Surrey and would like to purchase a second hand MPV. I understand if i go Hackney i will need a vehicle that is wheel chair accesable, but if i go private then i do not need this. These are the rules.

If i go hackney can i work for an operator or can i only do this if i am private?

Money allways comes into this, Hackney or private. What will be better in the long run for making a decent wage?

Can i purchase any meter to put into the vehicle or does it have to be a specified one?

I dont mind working hard so that is not an issue.

Any help or advice would be great.


Thank you !

Welcome to this fab trade.

In Mole Valley you can do what you like. You can run a taxi, you can run a PH, and you can work with an operator no matter what type you drive.

Pound notes are pound notes.

Your coucil will advise you which meters are acceptable, but just ask the local lads who's the best mush to buy it from.

If you can afford a wheel chair motor, then licensed one as a taxi. If not then a MPV is a good motor to license as a PH.

Of course you could buy a 8-seater wheel chair VW, and have the best of both worlds.

Or you could journey (drive part-time) someone else's cab for a few weeks while you suss the game out a bit better.

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IDFIMH

Did you read the 'New to the trade' FAQ near the top of this section?

That may answer some of your questions.

Or perhaps not, since these kind of questions cannot be answered definitively.

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

There are pros and cons, and personally I'm not keen on more than four seats because the more seats, the more assholes in the cab.

It might attract more lucrative fares, but of course there's the higher running costs to be considered.

And if it's a small office you might get leant on - for example, having to be available an inordinate amount of time, or staying up all night to do a run that only you or one or two others can do.

If it's a hackney and there's a mixed fleet, then there may be a lot of people walk past you on the rank in favour of saloons (although bigger parties may do the same to get to you).

I know some drivers like the big vehicles, but others have regretted buying them.

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

come join the fun.
dont take any notice of the moaners who have been doing it for 300 years.
if they say its bad then ask them why they are so stupid to still be doing it.
and dont take any notice of what people say they earn.
at the end of the week look in your pot. add it up and thats how much you havre earnt.

Hi.

Thanks to every one who has replied. Taken note of what you folks have said and will use this knowledge.


Going to go for Hackney and take it from there. Cant see much difference between PH and hackney.


Cheers

Yes, I don't really think it's possible for anyone to give you a certain answer, or for anyone to know without actually having worked in the trade.

For example, some prefer to drive saloon cars, which in many areas mean they have no choice but PH. And others don't like doing pre-booked work (searching for addresses, dragging idiots out of pubs etc) so prefer Hackneys. And it's often not just a question of money.

But in then end you have to do it yourself before you know. So the best general advice is probably for those new to the trade to make as little commitment as possible before joining it - ie don't buy a brand new TX2 for £30k before even doing the job - starting part-time and/or driving another's car gives you a chance to get to know the score before jumping in too deep.

I've known one or to who've put a car on to join the trade with all the rigmarole entailed and have disappeared after a few days never to be seen again. This is unusual, but it does happen, and can cost dear.

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

Thank you.

Lets just do it and see what happens.

Difficult, but lets go for it.