Quick answer: in the UK, a taxi (hackney carriage or black cab) can be hailed in the street or picked up at a rank, and charges a meter fare set by the council. A private hire vehicle, often called a minicab, must be pre-booked through a licensed operator, cannot be hailed or wait at a rank, and the operator sets its own fares, usually quoted when you book. Both are licensed by the local council or, in London, by TfL. Camberley Cars is a licensed private hire operator, licensed by Surrey Heath Borough Council.
Taxi vs private hire is a distinction most passengers never think about, because people call almost every car with a driver a “taxi”. In UK law, though, a black cab and a pre-booked private hire taxi are two different things, with different rules on how you hire them, how the fare works and how they are licensed. This guide explains the difference, what a minicab is, how to spot a licensed car, and which one suits which journey.
Taxi vs private hire: the difference at a glance
| What | Taxi (hackney carriage) | Private hire vehicle (minicab) |
|---|---|---|
| Hail in the street | Yes | No |
| Wait at a taxi rank | Yes | No |
| How you book | Hail, rank or pre-book | Pre-booked through a licensed operator only |
| Fare | Meter, with fares set by the council | Set by the operator, usually quoted when you book |
| How it looks | Often a purpose-built cab with a lit TAXI sign | Often an ordinary car, with a council licence plate and door signs |
| Licensed by | The local council, or TfL in London | The local council, or TfL in London |
What is a taxi (hackney carriage)?
A hackney carriage is the legal name for a taxi. It is licensed by the council to “ply for hire”, which means it can pick up passengers who hail it in the street or find it at a rank, without a booking. In London these are the black cabs, but hackney carriages elsewhere can be other vehicles, usually with a lit TAXI sign on the roof.
Hackney carriage fares are set by the council, and the meter charges the fare for the journey. The driver can charge less than the council’s fare, but not more. Our guide to fixed fare vs meter taxis explains how the meter works.
What is a private hire vehicle?
A private hire vehicle, or PHV, is a car or minibus that can only carry passengers who have booked in advance through a licensed private hire operator. You book by phone, online or by app, and the operator sends a licensed driver in a licensed vehicle. Private hire cars cannot be hailed in the street and are not allowed to wait on taxi ranks.
The council cannot set private hire fares: operators set their own. That is why most private hire firms quote the fare when you book. With Camberley Cars, every journey has a fixed fare agreed when you book, with no meter running.
What is a minicab?
Minicab is the everyday name for a private hire vehicle, used especially in London. A minicab, a private hire taxi and a pre-booked taxi from a local firm are all the same thing in law: a private hire vehicle booked through a licensed operator. Cars booked through ride-sharing apps are usually licensed private hire vehicles too. Our guide comparing taxi services to ride-sharing apps looks at how they differ in practice.
Black cab vs minicab: which should you use?
- Hailing a car on the spot. Only a taxi can be flagged down or picked up at a rank, so a black cab is the option when you have not booked.
- Airport runs and planned journeys. A pre-booked private hire car suits these best: the fare is quoted before you travel and the car is booked for your time.
- Groups and luggage. Private hire firms often run larger vehicles, such as MPVs and minibuses, that you can choose when you book.
- Price certainty. With a quoted fare you know the cost before you travel, while a meter fare is only known at the end.
Why private hire must be pre-booked
A private hire vehicle may only carry passengers who have booked through a licensed operator. A private hire car that picks up a passenger without a booking breaks the licensing rules, and the journey may not be insured. So if a car that is not a licensed taxi offers you a ride without a booking, do not get in.
Booking through the operator also means there is a record of the journey: the operator knows which driver and which car is collecting you, and when. With us, your driver calls or messages before pickup, so you know your car is on its way.
How to check a taxi or private hire car is licensed
- Look for the council licence plate. Licensed private hire cars show a council-issued plate, usually on the back of the car, and council door signs.
- Check the driver’s badge. Licensed drivers carry a badge issued by the council.
- Make sure it is your booking. A private hire car should be the one sent for you, not one offering a ride on the spot.
- Agree the fare when you book if you are using private hire.
Council licensing guides for passengers, such as Chichester District Council’s, explain the same checks. Some private hire vehicles have a licensing exemption and show a small licence in the windscreen instead of plates and door signs.
Who licenses taxis and private hire?
Outside London, the local council licenses hackney carriages and private hire operators, drivers and vehicles in its area. In London, TfL does. Licensed drivers have to pass checks before the council issues a licence.
Camberley Cars is a licensed private hire operator, licensed by Surrey Heath Borough Council. Our drivers are vetted, background-checked and insured, and we run 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Some passengers ask whether child car seat rules are the same in both: they are, and our guide to child seats in taxis explains them.
Private hire taxis from Camberley
We run pre-booked private hire from Camberley, Frimley, Farnborough, Sandhurst, Bagshot, Yateley, Blackwater and nearby towns: saloons, MPVs, executive cars and 8 and 12-seater minibuses, for local trips, airport transfers and long journeys. See everything we offer on our taxi services page.
Taxi vs private hire FAQs
What is the difference between a taxi and private hire?
A taxi, or hackney carriage, can be hailed in the street or hired at a rank, and charges a meter fare set by the council. A private hire vehicle must be pre-booked through a licensed operator, cannot be hailed, and the operator sets its fares.
What is a private hire vehicle?
A private hire vehicle is a car or minibus that can only carry passengers who have pre-booked through a licensed private hire operator. It cannot be hailed in the street or wait at a taxi rank.
Is a minicab the same as private hire?
Yes. Minicab is the everyday name for a private hire vehicle. Like any private hire car, a minicab must be pre-booked through a licensed operator.
Can you hail a private hire car?
No. Private hire cars can only carry passengers who have booked in advance through a licensed operator. Only a taxi, or hackney carriage, can be hailed in the street or hired at a rank.
Are private hire fares regulated?
The council cannot set private hire fares: operators set their own and usually quote the fare when you book. Taxi meter fares are set by the council or, in London, by TfL.
What is a PCO licence?
PCO licence is the common name for a London private hire licence issued by TfL. The name comes from the Public Carriage Office, which used to license London’s taxis and private hire. Outside London, private hire is licensed by the local council.
How do I know a private hire car is licensed?
Look for the council licence plate and door signs, check the driver’s council badge, and make sure the car is the one booked for you. If a car offers you a ride without a booking, do not get in.
Is Camberley Cars a taxi or private hire firm?
Camberley Cars is a licensed private hire operator, licensed by Surrey Heath Borough Council. Every journey is pre-booked, with a fixed fare agreed when you book.
Book a licensed private hire taxi
Pre-booked, fixed-fare private hire from Camberley with vetted, licensed drivers, 24 hours a day.
Prefer to talk? Call 01276 66888.
