Quick answer: a school taxi is a regular, pre-booked private hire car that takes your child to and from school on set days and times, booked and paid for by you. It is separate from free home to school transport, which your local council provides only for eligible children. Before you book, check the operator and driver are licensed, agree the days, times and pickup points, and arrange the right child seat or booster. Camberley Cars arranges regular bookings such as school runs: tell us the days and times.
Private hire school transport helps when the school is too far to walk, the bus does not fit your working day, or two children need to be in two places at once. This guide is written for parents: how a school taxi works, who qualifies for free council transport, what to check on safety and child seats, how regular school run bookings are set up, and when a minibus makes sense for clubs and trips.
What is private hire school transport?
Private hire school transport is a licensed taxi, booked in advance through a licensed operator, that takes a child to or from school. Most families book it as a regular run: the same days and times each week during term, with a fixed fare agreed when you book.
It is different from council home to school transport. Council transport is free for children who meet the eligibility rules and is arranged by the council. A parent-booked school taxi is open to any family, runs on your timetable and is paid for by you.
Free home to school transport from the council
According to GOV.UK, children of compulsory school age qualify for free transport if they go to their nearest suitable school and:
- the school is more than 2 miles away and the child is under 8;
- the school is more than 3 miles away and the child is 8 or over;
- there is no safe walking route between home and school; or
- they cannot walk there because of special educational needs, a disability or a mobility problem.
There are extra rules for some low-income families. You apply through your local council: around Camberley that is Surrey County Council, and for Farnborough, Yateley and Blackwater it is Hampshire County Council. If your child does not qualify, or the council route does not suit your family, a parent-booked school taxi is the alternative.
School taxi vs other school run options
| Option | Who arranges it | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Council home to school transport | The local council, for eligible children | Children who meet the distance, safety or SEND rules |
| Parent-booked school taxi | You, through a licensed operator | Working parents, awkward routes, after-school clubs |
| Lift share with other families | Parents between themselves | Short distances and occasional cover |
Is a school taxi safe? What to check
Start with licensing. Use a licensed private hire operator, and check that the driver has a council badge and the car has a council licence plate. Our guide to taxi vs private hire explains how to spot a licensed car.
Licensed drivers are checked by the council before they are licensed. The Department for Transport’s statutory taxi and private hire standards set out enhanced DBS criminal record checks for drivers every 6 months and safeguarding training for drivers. Camberley Cars is licensed by Surrey Heath Borough Council, and our drivers are vetted, background-checked and insured.
Then ask the operator the practical questions:
- How will you know which car and driver is coming?
- What happens if the usual driver is not available?
- How will the operator contact you if there is a delay?
- Where exactly will your child be picked up and dropped off at the school?
Child seats on the school run
Children normally need the correct child car seat until they are 12 years old or 135cm tall. In a licensed taxi or private hire car, if the driver does not provide the correct seat, a child can travel without one on a rear seat, using an adult belt from age 3. That is a legal exception, not the safest option, so plan for a seat or booster on a daily run.
With Camberley Cars, child and booster seats are available on request: tell us how many children are travelling and their ages. You can also supply your own seat. Our guide to child seats in taxis explains the rules in full.
Can a child travel alone in a taxi?
Taxi firms set their own policies on children travelling without an adult, and the right answer depends on the child’s age and the journey. If your child will travel on their own, discuss it with the operator before you book, agree exactly who hands over at each end, and make sure the school knows the arrangement.
Older students going to college or sixth form often travel independently. For younger children, many families arrange for a parent or another adult to travel with them, or to meet them at each end.
How regular school run bookings work
- Tell us the days and times. Morning pickups, afternoon collections, or both, and any days that differ, such as after-school clubs.
- Give the addresses. Your home and the exact school entrance or drop-off point.
- Allow for the school gate. Roads outside schools get busy just before the bell, so allow a margin in the pickup time.
- Share term dates. Let us know about holidays, inset days and early finishes so the bookings match the school calendar.
- Agree the fare. Every journey has a fixed fare agreed when you book, and you can pay by card, cash, mobile pay or prepay online.
Two families on the same route can share a school run, with a pickup at each home. Our guide to multi-stop taxi booking explains how journeys with several pickups work.
Minibuses for school clubs, fixtures and trips
For groups, our 8 and 12-seater minibus taxis come with a professional driver, which suits sports fixtures, after-school clubs and small school trips. They can be booked one way or return by the school or by parents together, with child and booster seats on request.
School runs around Camberley
We arrange regular bookings such as school runs, station commutes and standing weekly trips across Camberley, Frimley, Farnborough, Sandhurst, Bagshot, Yateley, Blackwater and nearby towns. See all the areas we cover.
School taxi FAQs
Can I book a regular school taxi?
Yes. We arrange regular bookings such as school runs. Tell us the days and times, the home and school addresses, and any term dates, and every journey has a fixed fare agreed when you book.
Are school taxi drivers DBS checked?
Licensed drivers are checked by the council before they are licensed. The Department for Transport’s statutory standards set out enhanced DBS checks for drivers every 6 months and safeguarding training. Our drivers are vetted, background-checked and insured.
Who provides free school transport?
Your local council, for eligible children. Children usually qualify if they go to their nearest suitable school and it is more than 2 miles away for under-8s or more than 3 miles away for children aged 8 or over, or if there is no safe walking route or they have special educational needs.
Does my child need a car seat in a school taxi?
Children normally need the correct child car seat until they are 12 or 135cm tall. In a licensed taxi, a child can legally travel on a rear seat without one if the driver does not provide it, but a seat or booster is safer. Child and booster seats are available on request.
Can a child travel alone in a taxi?
Taxi firms set their own policies on children travelling without an adult. Discuss it with the operator before you book, and agree who hands over at each end of the journey.
Can two families share a school run taxi?
Yes. One booking can include a pickup at each home on the way to school. Give every address when you book.
Can you take a group to a school fixture or club?
Yes. Our 8 and 12-seater minibuses come with a professional driver and can be booked one way or return, with child and booster seats on request.
How much does a school taxi cost?
It depends on the distance, the vehicle, the number of journeys each week and the times. Every journey has a fixed fare agreed when you book.
Book a regular school run
Licensed, pre-booked school runs from Camberley and nearby towns, with child and booster seats on request and a fixed fare agreed when you book.
Prefer to talk? Call 01276 66888.
