Any person who operates a Private Hire service (who is not also a hackney carriage proprietor who permits hackney carriages to be used for private hire) must apply to the Local Authority for a Private Hire Operator's Licence.
The objective in licensing Private Hire Operators is the safety of the public, who will be using operators' premises and vehicles and drivers arranged through them. A private hire vehicle can only be dispatched to a customer by a Private Hire Operator who holds an operator's licence.
The Local Authority can impose such conditions on an operator's licence as it considers to be reasonably necessary. These usually cover the amount of detail to be recorded for journeys etc.
Before an Operator's Licence will be granted the Local Authority has to be satisfied that there are no planning objections to the proposed use of the premises and that a certificate of Public Liability insurance is in force.
Contract exemption
The Road Safety Act 2006, Section 53 repealed the part of Section 75 Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, which exempted certain categories of private hire vehicles and drivers from the need to be licensed if they conducted their business by having hire contracts of not less than seven days.
This change was introduced in the interests of public safety, enabling local authorities to conduct suitability and safety checks on drivers and vehicles offering this type of service.
From January 2008 a wide range of drivers, vehicles and operators, who were previously exempt, need to be licensed. In general terms these will include executive hire, chauffeur services, park and ride, private ambulance services, and stretch limousines.
Vehicles used solely for weddings and funerals remain exempt from licensing. Any vehicle proprietor or operator who is in any doubt about whether vehicles need to be licensed should discuss this with the licensing service, and, if necessary seek independent legal advice.
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