Private Hire Taxi

Gabbatek · 4 Nov 2016 at 17:47

Any taxi drivers here?

Looking to get into it with my own car, a v.w passat bluemotion 2012.

What steps did you take and in what order?

From my research you need a taxi licence for yourself, a taxi licence for your car, a medical and a criminal history check. Also a taxi mot!

Does the medical have to be done by your doctors surgery? Or can i just hire one of the cheaper alternative private doctors?

inflames · 24 Nov 2016 at 15:47

I am interested in this as well have been considering it for sometime now and recently been in contact with a local firm for more information. The biggest issue for me is having to young mouths to feed and not having a fixed income could be a issue and all the usual pros and cons to being self employed like having to pay your own Tax and national insurance. After talking to the firm i found out what there commission is for taking the bookings and so on, the firm i spoke to take 20% + VAT, now consider the tax is roughly 20% and NI is 10% of your annual income that means your only taking home 50% of what you make. I am not sure if you can calm back your fuel or not? If your willing to put in the hours and get lots of jobs you can still make a descent living from it.

PS i have just noticed your location, same as mine.

AHarvey · 24 Nov 2016 at 17:27

Don't forget your car insurance will need to be updated

neoboy · 24 Nov 2016 at 17:52

Best place to start is the licensing people at whatever local council you're planning on operating in and wouldn't hurt to start looking at local taxi companies to see who's hiring and how much they charge etc.

Insurance will also be rather expensive and you do indeed need two MOTs, one "regular" and one done by the council. Latter needs to be done even if your car is under 3 years old, because you know need to squeeze every penny out

Some councils may also have a local knowledge test before they give you your personal licence and there can be some pain the rear rules, e.g. most councils get very funny if there's a window tint on the vehicle. Issue is that a lot of newer cars come with tint in the rear windows as standard and there are various age rules although your car would most likely be fine.

Not sure on the medical front but naturally it needs to be someone who has or had access to your medical records.

More importantly if you want to be making any kind of serious money then prepare to work unsocial and long hours not to mention need decent financial discipline. If you wanting to be working around 9 to 5, you're in for a rough time. Once you start factoring in the licensing fees, firm cut, car maintenance (area where you can save considerably if can do your own bits and bobs on the car) and fuel it may not be as much as it seems. Also while it's a great time to start working now to the run up to Christmas, January and February can be pretty brutal months.