What is the difference between taxi, private hire, and chauffeur services?
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London Heliport advertises with Chauffeur, taxi and local private hire car services. That sounds like three times the same thing, but I've seen taxi and private hire mentioned separately elsewhere as well. What are the differences? Does private hire mean things like Uber and other unlicensed taxis, sometimes referred to as gypsy cabs?
uk terminology taxis
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
London Heliport advertises with Chauffeur, taxi and local private hire car services. That sounds like three times the same thing, but I've seen taxi and private hire mentioned separately elsewhere as well. What are the differences? Does private hire mean things like Uber and other unlicensed taxis, sometimes referred to as gypsy cabs?
uk terminology taxis
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
1
I would have said that in the UK a taxi is licenced to ply for hire anywhere but a private hire car has to be booked with its central office. Not sure what chauffeur is though.
– mdewey
Oct 8 '17 at 16:01
2
"Private hire cars" in London are licensed, but to different standards than "taxis". Uber falls in this category; there's a huge debacle running right a the moment because the agency in charge has refused to renew the operating license of Uber's local subsidiary.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:34
@HenningMakholm I thought that was a taxi license for Uber that was not renewed, but maybe that was sloppy reporting. Does that mean private hire drivers (Uber or not) do not have to pass The Knowledge?
– gerrit
Oct 8 '17 at 16:36
1
@gerrit: Private hire drivers do not have to pass The Knowledge. That's the one main difference; the other is that they're not allowed to "ply for hire", i.e. they can't legally be hired by someone who approaches them in the street but must be booked in advance. (Part of the controversy surrounding Uber is that their model seems to loophole the latter requirement when "in advance" can become "30 seconds before you need to be picked up" in practice).
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:42
Most of the rest of the world of course calls it a "taxi" no matter whether you call to book it or hail it in the street; that probably is responsible for the sloppy reporting.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:44
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
London Heliport advertises with Chauffeur, taxi and local private hire car services. That sounds like three times the same thing, but I've seen taxi and private hire mentioned separately elsewhere as well. What are the differences? Does private hire mean things like Uber and other unlicensed taxis, sometimes referred to as gypsy cabs?
uk terminology taxis
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
London Heliport advertises with Chauffeur, taxi and local private hire car services. That sounds like three times the same thing, but I've seen taxi and private hire mentioned separately elsewhere as well. What are the differences? Does private hire mean things like Uber and other unlicensed taxis, sometimes referred to as gypsy cabs?
uk terminology taxis
uk terminology taxis
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
asked Oct 8 '17 at 15:07
gerrit
24.9k981198
24.9k981198
1
I would have said that in the UK a taxi is licenced to ply for hire anywhere but a private hire car has to be booked with its central office. Not sure what chauffeur is though.
– mdewey
Oct 8 '17 at 16:01
2
"Private hire cars" in London are licensed, but to different standards than "taxis". Uber falls in this category; there's a huge debacle running right a the moment because the agency in charge has refused to renew the operating license of Uber's local subsidiary.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:34
@HenningMakholm I thought that was a taxi license for Uber that was not renewed, but maybe that was sloppy reporting. Does that mean private hire drivers (Uber or not) do not have to pass The Knowledge?
– gerrit
Oct 8 '17 at 16:36
1
@gerrit: Private hire drivers do not have to pass The Knowledge. That's the one main difference; the other is that they're not allowed to "ply for hire", i.e. they can't legally be hired by someone who approaches them in the street but must be booked in advance. (Part of the controversy surrounding Uber is that their model seems to loophole the latter requirement when "in advance" can become "30 seconds before you need to be picked up" in practice).
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:42
Most of the rest of the world of course calls it a "taxi" no matter whether you call to book it or hail it in the street; that probably is responsible for the sloppy reporting.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:44
add a comment |Â
1
I would have said that in the UK a taxi is licenced to ply for hire anywhere but a private hire car has to be booked with its central office. Not sure what chauffeur is though.
– mdewey
Oct 8 '17 at 16:01
2
"Private hire cars" in London are licensed, but to different standards than "taxis". Uber falls in this category; there's a huge debacle running right a the moment because the agency in charge has refused to renew the operating license of Uber's local subsidiary.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:34
@HenningMakholm I thought that was a taxi license for Uber that was not renewed, but maybe that was sloppy reporting. Does that mean private hire drivers (Uber or not) do not have to pass The Knowledge?
– gerrit
Oct 8 '17 at 16:36
1
@gerrit: Private hire drivers do not have to pass The Knowledge. That's the one main difference; the other is that they're not allowed to "ply for hire", i.e. they can't legally be hired by someone who approaches them in the street but must be booked in advance. (Part of the controversy surrounding Uber is that their model seems to loophole the latter requirement when "in advance" can become "30 seconds before you need to be picked up" in practice).
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:42
Most of the rest of the world of course calls it a "taxi" no matter whether you call to book it or hail it in the street; that probably is responsible for the sloppy reporting.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:44
1
1
I would have said that in the UK a taxi is licenced to ply for hire anywhere but a private hire car has to be booked with its central office. Not sure what chauffeur is though.
– mdewey
Oct 8 '17 at 16:01
I would have said that in the UK a taxi is licenced to ply for hire anywhere but a private hire car has to be booked with its central office. Not sure what chauffeur is though.
– mdewey
Oct 8 '17 at 16:01
2
2
"Private hire cars" in London are licensed, but to different standards than "taxis". Uber falls in this category; there's a huge debacle running right a the moment because the agency in charge has refused to renew the operating license of Uber's local subsidiary.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:34
"Private hire cars" in London are licensed, but to different standards than "taxis". Uber falls in this category; there's a huge debacle running right a the moment because the agency in charge has refused to renew the operating license of Uber's local subsidiary.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:34
@HenningMakholm I thought that was a taxi license for Uber that was not renewed, but maybe that was sloppy reporting. Does that mean private hire drivers (Uber or not) do not have to pass The Knowledge?
– gerrit
Oct 8 '17 at 16:36
@HenningMakholm I thought that was a taxi license for Uber that was not renewed, but maybe that was sloppy reporting. Does that mean private hire drivers (Uber or not) do not have to pass The Knowledge?
– gerrit
Oct 8 '17 at 16:36
1
1
@gerrit: Private hire drivers do not have to pass The Knowledge. That's the one main difference; the other is that they're not allowed to "ply for hire", i.e. they can't legally be hired by someone who approaches them in the street but must be booked in advance. (Part of the controversy surrounding Uber is that their model seems to loophole the latter requirement when "in advance" can become "30 seconds before you need to be picked up" in practice).
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:42
@gerrit: Private hire drivers do not have to pass The Knowledge. That's the one main difference; the other is that they're not allowed to "ply for hire", i.e. they can't legally be hired by someone who approaches them in the street but must be booked in advance. (Part of the controversy surrounding Uber is that their model seems to loophole the latter requirement when "in advance" can become "30 seconds before you need to be picked up" in practice).
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:42
Most of the rest of the world of course calls it a "taxi" no matter whether you call to book it or hail it in the street; that probably is responsible for the sloppy reporting.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:44
Most of the rest of the world of course calls it a "taxi" no matter whether you call to book it or hail it in the street; that probably is responsible for the sloppy reporting.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:44
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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votes
up vote
3
down vote
Chauffer: may only be supplied to customers of the heliport.
Taxi: licenced, can ply for trade (you can hail at the roadside)
private hire: licenced for pre-booked journeys only (but you can book by phone and be picked up as soon as a car can reach you)
Uber falls in the last category.
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
3
down vote
Chauffer: may only be supplied to customers of the heliport.
Taxi: licenced, can ply for trade (you can hail at the roadside)
private hire: licenced for pre-booked journeys only (but you can book by phone and be picked up as soon as a car can reach you)
Uber falls in the last category.
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
Chauffer: may only be supplied to customers of the heliport.
Taxi: licenced, can ply for trade (you can hail at the roadside)
private hire: licenced for pre-booked journeys only (but you can book by phone and be picked up as soon as a car can reach you)
Uber falls in the last category.
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
add a comment |Â
up vote
3
down vote
up vote
3
down vote
Chauffer: may only be supplied to customers of the heliport.
Taxi: licenced, can ply for trade (you can hail at the roadside)
private hire: licenced for pre-booked journeys only (but you can book by phone and be picked up as soon as a car can reach you)
Uber falls in the last category.
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
Chauffer: may only be supplied to customers of the heliport.
Taxi: licenced, can ply for trade (you can hail at the roadside)
private hire: licenced for pre-booked journeys only (but you can book by phone and be picked up as soon as a car can reach you)
Uber falls in the last category.
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
answered Oct 8 '17 at 17:56
user16259
3,593820
3,593820
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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1
I would have said that in the UK a taxi is licenced to ply for hire anywhere but a private hire car has to be booked with its central office. Not sure what chauffeur is though.
– mdewey
Oct 8 '17 at 16:01
2
"Private hire cars" in London are licensed, but to different standards than "taxis". Uber falls in this category; there's a huge debacle running right a the moment because the agency in charge has refused to renew the operating license of Uber's local subsidiary.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:34
@HenningMakholm I thought that was a taxi license for Uber that was not renewed, but maybe that was sloppy reporting. Does that mean private hire drivers (Uber or not) do not have to pass The Knowledge?
– gerrit
Oct 8 '17 at 16:36
1
@gerrit: Private hire drivers do not have to pass The Knowledge. That's the one main difference; the other is that they're not allowed to "ply for hire", i.e. they can't legally be hired by someone who approaches them in the street but must be booked in advance. (Part of the controversy surrounding Uber is that their model seems to loophole the latter requirement when "in advance" can become "30 seconds before you need to be picked up" in practice).
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:42
Most of the rest of the world of course calls it a "taxi" no matter whether you call to book it or hail it in the street; that probably is responsible for the sloppy reporting.
– Henning Makholm
Oct 8 '17 at 16:44