App based companies
The licensing team has fielded numerous queries from licensed and prospective drivers about their eligibility to drive for companies outside Nuneaton and Bedworth based on app bookings.
Private hire operators licensed by Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council run vehicles and drivers also licensed within our borough.
Nevertheless, all operators, including those licensed by Nuneaton and Bedworth and those outside, are legally permitted to dispatch vehicles and drivers to work anywhere in the country, provided that the vehicle and driver assigned to the booking hold a license from the local authority that granted the operator's license.
Since the easing of sub-contracting rules for private hire vehicles in 2015, any operator can sub-contract bookings to other licensed operators within different local authorities, ensuring the deployment of a suitably licensed vehicle and driver.
Legislation does not limit the trading area of any private hire operator in any way.
Although it might seem that companies conducting app-based bookings are exploiting this, they are, in fact, operating within the law.
Private hire vehicles operated by external companies are governed by the same laws as those in Nuneaton and Bedworth, and any legislative breaches identified will be investigated and addressed accordingly.
Hackney carriages (taxis) licensed within the borough are permitted to undertake pre-booked work for any operator nationwide. However, our vehicle licensing conditions stipulate that we typically do not license vehicles that will not primarily operate in our area; essentially, the vehicle should be active in our borough most of the time.
Additionally, journeys commencing within the borough and ending outside must be charged at the metered rate unless a prior arrangement has been made before the start of the journey.