What is the difference between a hackney carriage and private hire driver?
The main difference is that hackney carriage drivers can be flagged down or pick up from taxi ranks, whereas private hire drivers are booked by an operator and cannot be flagged down. In order to apply to be a private hire driver you need to work for a private hire operator. In some cases private hire drivers may hold their own individual operator licence. Drivers either own their private hire vehicle or rent a vehicle from a private hire operator. Hackney carriage drivers can work for a private hire operator as well as picking passengers up from the street or taxi ranks. Drivers can either own their own vehicle or rent or hire a vehicle from an existing proprietor.
