Hackney Carriage Information

Hackney carriages (or "taxis") are public transport vehicles which are licensed to "ply for hire".

They can:

• carry passengers for hire or reward;
• be hailed by prospective passengers in the street; and
• park on a rank to await the approach of passengers.

A hackney carriage must be driven by a driver who holds a hackney carriage driver's licence.

Hackney carriage vehicles can be found at the ranks around Clitheroe and they can be hailed in the street. These vehicles have a roof light with the word TAXI on them. They have a blue plate affixed to the rear and a smaller version affixed to the windscreen which carry details of the expiry date, licence number and vehicle registration.

Hackney carriage (taxi) licencing

There are two types of hackney carriage licence:

Licence for a hackney carriage/taxi vehicle

• Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence application form
• Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence guidance notes

Once licensed, a taxi is always a taxi until the licence expires. Before a vehicle is licensed it must pass an MOT and garage test to ensure its safety.

Taxi vehicle licences are issued subject to vehicle conditions.

Licence for a hackney carriage/taxi driver

• Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence application form
• Hackney Carriage Driver's Licence guidance
• Hackney Carriage Driver's Medical Form

All drivers in the Ribble Valley have to take a driver's test before they can obtain a licence. Guidance notes for persons applying to take the Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Driver's Test are available upon request.

Taxi driver's licences are issued subject to drivers conditions.

Byelaws

In addition to the licence conditions, the Hackney Carriage byelaws must be complied with. 

Information on the hackney carriage vehicles and drivers that are already licensed to operate in the Ribble Valley is available on our Public Register.

Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing Policy

This policy was first approved by the Licensing Committee in April 2017 and outlines the requirements of the relevant legislation and gives guidance to new applicants, existing Hackney Carriage drivers and vehicles and members of the public as to how the Council will administer and enforce the requirements of the licensing regimes. Our Policy has now been reviewed and updated and the Council consulted with all relevant licence holders upon the proposed amendments between 30 October 2018 and 11 January 2019. The revised Policy for the Licensing of Hackney Carriage Drivers and Vehicles, Private Hire Operators, Drivers and Vehicles was approved by the Licensing Committee on 29 January 2019.

Immigration Act 2016

The new provisions of this act, which came into force on 1 December 2016 mean that driver and operator licences must not be issued to people who are illegally present in the UK, who are not permitted to work, or who are permitted to work but are subject to a condition that prohibits them from holding such a licence.

The Council must therefore require all applicants to submit one of a number of prescribed documents which show that the applicant has permission to be in the UK and undertake work as an operator or private hire or hackney carriage driver. The Council has produced a fact sheet explaining the requirements, see Taxi Immigration Act 2016 Attached to the fact sheet is a list of acceptable documents. If you have any queries regarding this please contact the Administration Assistant (licensing) on 01200 414554.

Convictions Policy

Should the applicant have any prior convictions and/or cautions they will be considered in light of the Council’s Convictions policy for Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Driver’s. For more information see the Drivers Convictions Policy.

Infringement Scheme

The Council has an Infringement Points Scheme in place. This scheme will apply to all private hire (and hackney carriage) drivers and vehicles, and operators that are licensed by the Ribble Valley Borough Council.