About Taxi Licensing
The term "taxi" is a general term used to describe
both hackney carriages and private hire vehicles. Whilst
both types of vehicle may look the same there are significant
differences in the way they operate and the law that governs the
way they carry out their business.
Dover District Council has adopted three licensing objectives in
order to ensure compliance with the above legislation whilst
seeking to promote the hackney carriage and private hire trades
throughout the Dover District Council area:
- To ensure that, before any licence is issued, the driver of any
hackney carriage or private hire vehicle is a fit and proper person
to hold such a licence.
- To ensure public safety and confidence in the condition and
operation of any hackney carriage or private hire vehicles licensed
by Dover District Council.
- To ensure and promote a high quality, professional service to
the residents of and visitors to the Dover District.
The Council is also the enforcement body in respect of any
breaches of legislation and policy by both hackney carriage and
private hire drivers and operators and deals with compliants from
members of the public.
The Council sets the fares that may be charged by hackney
carriage operators and fees that the Council will charge for
licensing. There is no power to set the fees of private hire
vehicles.
The Licensing Team deals with applications for the
licensing of hackney carriage vehicles and drivers and private hire
drivers, vehicles and operators.
Dover District Council has published a handbook designed to
assist drivers, owners and operators of hackney carriages in the
exercise of their role. This has been adopted as a General Principal and Policy for
the taxi trade.
Contact the Licensing Section
Telephone: 01304 872295
E-mail: licensing@dover.gov.uk
