Registering a car as a private hire vehicle.

[Triumph Man]

Hi all, not sure if this has been asked before so bear with me. I was thinking earlier about providing a private hire service for weekends and evenings, i.e., retaining my day job. Does anyone here have any experience of doing this? What do I need to do in terms of applying for licences (tests/medicals etc) and what am I looking at in terms of cost? I know I will need to notify my insurance that the car would be used for business purposes, but what other insurance (if any) would I need? PI?

Furthermore, any restrictions on the car? It's a 2002 built 2003 registered VW Passat TDI, which to me seems ideal. Not very prestigious, so no USP there, but a solid reliable car.

Thanks in advance guys!

[GoneAnon]

The rules will vary according to which local authority is concerned so you need to check with your council - they may have info on their website.
A CRO/Disclosure check will probably be a minimum.
Airports and maybe stations will have another set of rules (and fees) to pick up at their premises.
Some will have max ages and your car is too old for some up here.
Just upgrading your insurance to Business Use is inadequate.

Apart from the legal stuff, you have to think about how you will get customers and as a private hire, I think you can only take pre-booked fares.

[Monkeylegend]

You will need:

- Car to be tested and licensed by your LA, and some require you to do a local knowledge test. There is talk of NVQ qualifications but not sure how far this has gone yet. (Some LA's will accept a new MOT cert)

- A first aid kit, usually an eye wash and a fire extinguisher in the car at all times when you are working.

- You to be licensed by your LA and you might need to take an advanced driving test.

- An Operators license from your LA if you work for yourself.

- An enhanced CRB check

- PH insurance which is completely separate, and usually does not allow you to transfer your NCB form your existing insurance so you start from scratch and will be at least £2k for the first year, probably.

- An HGV medical examination

- Some LA restrict the age of cars at first licence and won't licence cars when they reach a certain age, it varies with different LA's.

- A thick skin and a tolerance for drunkards, sick and food over your seats,and expect plenty of abuse as the night wears on. And getting tham to pay you can be contentious.

I would budget at least £600 for the above excluding insurance and keep your fingers crossed re the age of your car.

It might be easier to work for one of your local companies, that way you will not need an operators license, but you will pay them for giving you work if you run your own car.

Good luck.

[silverfoxcc]

You will also need to realise that no-one else will be able to drive your car unless they are licenced with the LA and you cannot use it for any private use whatsoever


Apart from that and all the above its a doddle

Personal experience

[Triumph Man]

Thanks for the advice guys, that's very helpful. Had a look at Wiltshire's website, and they don't seem to have a restriction on car age, which is useful.

[Triumph Man]

silverfoxcc said:

You will also need to realise that no-one else will be able to drive your car unless they are licenced with the LA and you cannot use it for any private use whatsoever


Apart from that and all the above its a doddle

Personal experience

Seriously? I was thinking about doing it casually at the weekends. So I couldn't drive it to my day job, and my GF couldn't drive me home from the pub in it? That's crap.

[Monkeylegend]

Triumph Man said:

silverfoxcc said:

You will also need to realise that no-one else will be able to drive your car unless they are licenced with the LA and you cannot use it for any private use whatsoever


Apart from that and all the above its a doddle

Personal experience

Seriously? I was thinking about doing it casually at the weekends. So I couldn't drive it to my day job, and my GF couldn't drive me home from the pub in it? That's crap.

I think you will be able to drive it for pleasure under the terms on the PH insurance, but your girlfriend won't be able to drive it legally unless she is licensed by the LA and she is a named driver. To become a named driver the insurance co will ask to see her LA licence.

You will also not be covered to drive any other car, even 3rd party only, on your PH insurance.

[silverfoxcc]

IIRC that was in the rules and regs book issued by the local council, 12 yrs have passed since i had the licence etc for three weeks before a heart attack and they took the licence off of me in two shakes, and would have to go through a VERY stiff medical.So i am doing weddings which (so far) are not covered, but soon will be,and then its goodbye to that.