Taxis

There are two types of taxis which are known as Hackney Carriages and Private Hire.

Hackney Carriages

• Hackney Carriage vehicles (also known as ‘taxis’) can pick you up from a taxi rank and can be hailed down in the street, in the local authority where they are licensed.
• In Bristol the vehicles are painted blue, have an illuminated taxi sign on the roof and display white and red licence plates on the front and rear of the vehicle.
• In Bath and North East Somerset there is no specific colour requirement, and the plates are white.
• In South Gloucestershire there is no specific colour requirement, and the plates are white and purple.
• All Bristol and South Gloucestershire ‘taxis’ are wheelchair accessible.
• In any taxi there must be no charge for assistance dogs or for carrying aids like wheelchairs.

---

Private Hire

• Private hire vehicles have to be pre-booked and cannot pick you up from a taxi rank or be flagged down in the street.
• Come in various colours. In Bristol they arent allowed to be blue, and they must display yellow and red licence plates with black printing on the front and back of the vehicle. In Bath and North East Somerset there is no specific colour requirement, and the plates are yellow. In South Gloucestershire there is no specific colour requirement, and the plates are white and green.
• Can only be booked through a licensed operator and must be booked prior to travel.
• You might see vehicles licensed with local authorities from all over England operating in and around the South West. This is allowed as long as the vehicle, driver, and operator they are working for are all licensed by the same local authority. This is known as ‘cross-border hiring’.

---

Taxi ranks

Taxi ranks are located throughout the South West, and operate at different times. They will have signage on the rank telling you when they are in operation.

---

Information for passengers

---

Information for taxi operators