Taxi Licences
North East Derbyshire District Council is responsible for licensing all Hackney Carriages, Private Hire Vehicles and Operators in the District, together with their drivers.
The Council checks that all drivers are medically fit, have a thorough knowledge of North East Derbyshire and are fit and proper persons to hold a licence. We also check all licensed vehicles twice a year to ensure that they are mechanically sound and safe.
All licensed vehicles have a licence plate which must be fixed to the rear of the vehicle and drivers are issued with a photographic ID card which must be worn at all times whilst driving a licensed vehicle.
There are several differences in the way that Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles operate:
- Hackney Carriages
also referred to as ‘Taxis’. Drivers usually wait at Taxi ranks to be hired, but can also be waived down in the street. Taxis must always have a meter displaying the fare as it accrues and drivers must not charge more than the fare showing on the meter. Charges for journeys within the North East Derbyshire Area are regulated by the Council, fares for journeys that cross the boundary into another local authority area should be negotiated before the journey starts.
- Private Hire Vehicles
also referred to as ‘Mini Cabs’. All journeys must be pre-booked through the private hire operator. Private hire cars are not allowed to wait on taxi ranks or to wait outside premises hoping for a booking; this is illegal and is referred to as 'plying for hire'. The local authority has no control over the amount that the mini cab driver charges, although they are obliged to advise the customer of the fare in advance of the journey if requested, and a fare table must be displayed inside the vehicle.
Words of advice
- Never get into a car without ensuring that it is the one booked for you.
- Ensure that it displays the correct licence plate and driver’s badge.
- Always pre-book your journey.
- Try and agree the fare at the time of booking with the operator.
- In the event of a complaint, always get the driver’s badge number and the licence plate number from the rear of the vehicle.
Private Hire drivers who illegally ply for hire outside pubs and clubs and pick up customers who are not pre-booked are invalidating their vehicle insurance. If you are involved in an accident in a car that was not pre-booked you will have no claim against the driver's insurance.
By law, all taxis and private hire vehicles must agree to carry assistance dogs (for example guide dogs or hearing dogs) without a further charge. It is an offence for the driver to refuse to do so unless they hold a certificate of exemption.
Applying for a licence
If you would like to apply for a licence, please see the relevant page on each individual licence:
Skills required for drivers
To be a private hire or a Hackney carriage driver, you will need:
- Good driving skills and an awareness of road safety
- a detailed knowledge of the area of North East Derbyshire, including street names, major landmarks and one-way systems
- Good communication skills
- Good numeracy skills for handling cash
- The ability to deal angry or drunken passengers
- An awareness of disabled access issues
There are courses available for drivers who wish to gain a qualification in Taxi driving.
For any other queries please contact the Licensing Team either;
- By telephone - using the number listed at the foot of this page
- Online - using the link to our Online Enquiry Form at the foot of this page
- Or you can now contact us by text message, text the word 'TAXIS' followed by your enquiry.
Downloads
Taxi Policy (46.7 KB)
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