The Council's Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle, Operator and Driver Licensing Policy includes the Licensing Authority’s practices and procedures.
Following changes to the Department for Transport’s Best Practice Guidance, and also following feedback from the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Trade, Councillors and Officers, this policy is now being reviewed. For ease of reference, the proposed changes are shown in shaded italic text in the revised draft policy.
Any comments on the proposed changes to the policy, should be emailed to licensing@cornwall.gov.uk by no later than 2 June 2025.
Differences in Taxi's and Private Hire vehicles
We regulate two types of transport. These are private hire vehicles and hackney carriages (taxis).
The difference between taxis and private hire vehicles and how they can operate is:
Taxis
can:
- carry passengers who have hailed them in the street or from an authorised rank.
- Taxis can also be pre-booked.
- All taxis must be licensed by the Council
Taxi's can only operate in a particular zone. The zones reflect the boundaries of the previous district and borough councils within Cornwall. This will not change unless Cornwall Council decides to amalgamate the zones, this is subject to consultation.
Private hire vehicles
- cannot be hailed in the street
- cannot sit on taxi ranks
- must be booked.
These vehicles also have to be licensed by the Council. Unlike taxis, they are not restricted to operating in certain zones and are free to operate across the whole county.
Guidance for passengers and how to make a complaint about a taxi/private hire driver, vehicle or operator.
Please view the licences below. Please note that you need a separate licence for both the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle:
Hackney Carriage taxi and Private Hire Vehicle licence
You will need to apply for this licence to drive a taxi or a private hire vehicle
Hackney carriage and private hire driver licence
Drivers of both taxi's and private hire vehicles will need to apply for this licence.
Private hire operators licence
You will need this licence if you are self employed and driving a private hire vehicle.
Omnibus - Horse drawn carriage licensing
Information on Horse drawn carriages and other carriages.