Taxi Driver Business, Advice Needed????

dannyjlloyd

Hiya,

I'm looking for some advice on running my own Taxi, what would I need to do and what insurance would I need????

Thanks

Dan

brightonman123

best call your local taxi firm, or the council?

passatrider

Hi dan,

It all depends on where you are in the country to be honest as every council has it's own criteria on issuing taxi licences. I will however give you the basics having spent 20 odd years doing it myself.

You will have to contact your local council to obtain a taxi drivers Licence first, which includes a CRB check as standard and could take upto two months to process. The cost of a taxi badge can vary but being your first one it could be anything upto £250 as you will probably have to undergo a medical too.

While you are waiting for your badge to be processed my advice would be to find a company that will take you on as a driver first. I know this is not what you are asking initially but you will be surprised the amount of people who go into this business, only to find it's not for them.

If you decide that you still want to get your own car then you will have to contact the council again and ask them what is the criteria for plating your own car as a taxi. Some councils have limits on how many taxi plates they issue so you may have to join a waiting list. My local authority issues licences like they are going out of fashion, but the market is saturated in this area now.
The car will have to be fitted out with a taxi meter, topsign and a taxi radio if you are going to work for a firm. You will also need Public Liability Insurance to Ply for Hire, which depending on your age can be quite expensive. Budget in the region of £1000+ per year, although in most cases you can pay in instalments.
Your car will then have to go through a taxi test which your local council will be able to advise you on; again each area has it's own rules and regulations so be aware of that.

However, before you go rushing out and spending redundancy money or whatever on running a taxi. Just remember that many people are losing their jobs at the moment, aswell as shops closing in the highstreet. Pubs and clubs are closing too, mainly due to the current recession and the smoking ban.

I'll not lie to you Dan it's bloody hard work to make a living from it these days to be honest. However, if you are prepared to work long hours including Fri/sat nights then I don't see any reason why you cannot make it work for you.

Good Luck!:T

Ps. Don't forget to register as Self-Employed with the Tax Office!