What is the difference between a Hackney Carriage and a Private Hire Vehicle?
Under the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 and the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, the Licensing Section undertakes the licensing of Hackney Carriages and Hackney Carriage Drivers and Private Hire Vehicles, Drivers and Operators.
In Blackpool there are two types of vehicle licensed - Hackney Carriages and Private Hire vehicles.
- Hackney Carriages are generally purpose built 'London style' cabs
- Landaus are horse-drawn Hackney Carriages
- Private hire vehicles are usually saloon type vehicles but include minibuses with up to and including 8 passenger seats.
- Hackney carriages display a blue and white plate on the front and rear of the vehicle with their registration number and vehicle type on, and have an illuminated 'Taxi' sign on the roof.
- Private Hire vehicles display no plates on the front and rear but display a yellow and white badge in the front windscreen and door signs with Blackpool Council logo and company details denoting that the journey must be pre-booked.
- Hackney carriage / private hire drivers are all issued with an identification badge with a photograph of the driver upon it. It is advisable to check that a driver has such a badge before getting into a vehicle.