We advise passengers to only use licensed taxis when not travelling on public transport or by train. Always examine the vehicle for signage and a plate displaying a licence number and make a note of it before getting in.
Licensed taxi drivers have been vetted as to their fitness and propriety and their vehicles are checked and tested regularly for compliance, roadworthiness and that they have appropriate insurance in place.
Taxis are licensed as either private hire or as a hackney carriage, and whilst both do a very similar job, they operate in slightly different ways.
Private Hire Vehicles
Private hire vehicles are available by pre-booking only and should not be flagged down or approached without a booking. Hull's private hire vehicle fleet consists mainly of mid to large size family cars, complimented by a number of larger minibus style vehicles.
Wheelchair accessible vehicles are also available as private hire vehicles however, many private hire operators state that they cannot always guarantee their availability in advance, so callers are advised to ring on the day to check for availability.
There are a number of large and smaller private hire operator firms in the City. Whilst the licensing authority cannot endorse one over another, a quick internet search will display those local firms, many of whom will have a personal or automated telephone service, with some having a mobile app which you can download to book and then track the drivers progress to your pickup point.
Hackney Carriages
Hackney Carriage vehicles are allowed to operate in the same way as private hire vehicles but they are also allowed to use the Council's Hackney Carriage ranks and can pick up passengers when hailed in the street.
Hull's Hackney Carriage vehicle fleet are all able to offer wheelchair facilities. There are also a number of Hackney Carriage vehicles that are able to accommodate larger wheelchairs.
Before you go on a night out
As a group, agree on a time to head home - When organising a group night out, have a conversation. Include an agreeable time for booking taxis home and a safe place to be picked up from, one where you would feel okay to wait around on your own.
Pre-book ahead of time - Pre-booking a vehicle means you do not have to worry about how you will get home later on and can enjoy your night without the possibility of struggling to book a taxi at busier times and especially if it is expected to be cold or raining outside.
Join a taxi rank in good time - If you don’t really want to pre-book, then you may want to consider joining a queue at a taxi rank at a time when you see that black cabs are plentiful. Although most available black cabs will attempt to make it back to people waiting at a rank, there may be a greater chance of them being flagged down closer to their last drop off and so wait times and queues at ranks will naturally increase as the night goes on.
Paying in cash - If you are likely to be paying the driver in cash, set enough money aside for the fare home, ideally in a separate place to your spending money, especially if you don’t really want to be stopping off at an unfamiliar ATM late at night or into the early hours.
Be on time - Remember that a driver may already be looking out for you at your requested time/place and will only wait for a reasonable period before treating you as a no show. Once cancelled, a driver may be allocated another job immediately at busy times and so you may have to rebook or wait around longer if the operator is happy to reinstate and fulfil your original booking.
Be Kind - Remember that occasionally, a booked vehicle may not arrive on time you have booked for. This can often be due to traffic and road conditions, or that a smaller number of drivers then expected are available to cover the bookings of that day. So, if your driver happens to be late, please treat that driver as you would expect to be treated in that situation. There is no excuse for abuse.
Lost Property
If you believe you have lost any property in a private hire vehicle or hackney carriage you will need to contact the local police station as all drivers are advised to hand any items left in their vehicle to the local police station.
You may also wish to contact the private hire office you used to book the private hire vehicle.
Complaints about taxi drivers
If you have a compliment or a complaint about a taxi driver, please visit our complaints page on how to file a complaint.
