What is the difference between private hire and hackney carriage?
A Hackey carriage is any chauffeur-driven hire vehicle that can ply for hire, be flagged down or hired at a taxi rank. These vehicles are either black and white saloons, or are a London-style taxi, or people carriers (MPVs) which can be any colour. They will have a roof sign and display a white plate on the rear of the vehicle. Fares for Hackney carriages are controlled by Watford Borough Council and there is a set tariff for these vehicles. A private hire vehicle cannot ply for hire, be flagged down or hired at a taxi rank. They must be booked in advance via a private hire operator i.e. a taxi company. They can be any colour or make of vehicle but will display a yellow plate on the rear of the vehicle. Fares for private hire vehicles are not controlled by the council; they are private contracts between the passenger and the private hire firm involved.
