Hackney Carriage & Private Hire Licensing

Chester City Council currently licence two different categories of vehicle for transportation; Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles. But what is the difference? Below you will find a brief summary of the two categories, if you would like to know more, you can click on the link below to either of the categories.

Hackney Carriage or Taxi Licences

Click here to visit the Hackney Carriages section

Hackney Carriages were named for the first examples of this type of service, black carriages drawn by horses operating in London from as early as 1625. The word Taxi comes from the Taximeter invented by Wilhelm Brune in 1891; the device used to calculate the distance travelled and the fare for the journey.

Today, the primary difference between Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles is that Hackney Carriages are able to pick people up from any location within their Licensing District without a prior booking being made.

For more information on Hackney Carriage Licences, including Applications Forms, Guidance and Fees information, please click on the link above.

Private Hire Licences

Click here to visit the Private Hire Licences section

Private Hire Licensing was introduced in 1976 as part of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act of that year. It was introduced to regulate the growing number of drivers and vehicles performing Hire and Reward functions without any vetting or controls.

Private Hire Drivers can only transport members of the public who have booked the journey through a Licensed Private Hire Operator, the journey must be conducted in a Licensed (And therefore specially tested) Private Hire Vehicle and driven by a Licensed Private Hire Driver who has undergone the appropriate vetting procedures.

For more information on Private Hire Licensing, including Application Forms, Guidance and Fees information, please click on the link above.