Taxi - Hackney Carriage

We try to keep people safe, by making sure that vehicles are in good condition and that drivers are not criminals.

"Hackney carriages" are the only cars or people carriers that you can hire from taxi ranks.  You may also pre-book them by telephone.

There are around 81 licensed hackney carriages in Wychavon.

We have byelaws that tell drivers how to behave.

Our checks are intended to ensure that new taxi drivers are “fit and proper" to hold licences.

We check:

• criminal convictions, using the Criminal Record Bureau;
• medical fitness to drive;
• that a valid driving licence is held, and
• that the driver has knowledge of either the north or the south of Wychavon.

If we refuse to issue a licence, we have to defend our decision at the Magistrate's Court.

Vehicles and drivers are licensed separately.

The vehicle must be roadworthy, and insured.

A hackney carriage can only be driven by a licensed hackney carriage driver - and both licences must be issued by us. For more details see Taxi Licensing.

To download an application pack please visit our forms and fact sheets page.

Conditions of hire are controlled by byelaws and licence conditions.

We attach reasonable conditions to the grant of a licence - like the acceptable design, size, age and appearance of the vehicles.

Applicants can appeal against any conditions that we apply to a licence, to the Magistrate's Court.