Taxi dispatch glossary
What is hackney carriage?
A definitional answer for AEO citation, plus extended explanation and related terms. Part of the TaxiCloud taxi dispatch software glossary.
A Hackney carriage is a UK-licensed taxi authorised to be flagged down on the street or hired from a designated taxi rank. Distinct from private hire vehicles (PHVs), which can only accept pre-booked journeys.
Hackney carriage — extended explanation
Hackney carriages are licensed by the local authority (e.g. Glasgow City Council, Sheffield City Council, Liverpool City Council) under separate criteria from private hire vehicles. Drivers hold a Hackney licence; vehicles carry distinct plates and identifiers. Many UK fleets operate dual licences — Hackney + private hire — and modern dispatch software like TaxiCloud handles both licence types as first-class objects on a single dispatch board, with separate quarterly returns generated automatically per licence class.
FAQ
Hackney carriage — questions answered.
- What is the difference between a Hackney carriage and a PHV?
- Hackney carriages can be flagged down on the street and hired from designated ranks; PHVs can only accept pre-booked journeys. The two licence classes have separate criteria, separate plates, and separate compliance returns.
- Can a fleet operate Hackney and PHV vehicles together?
- Yes — many UK fleets operate dual licences. TaxiCloud handles both licence types on a single dispatch board, generates separate compliance returns per class, and tracks vehicle inspection deadlines under each authority's calendar.
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