A taxi licence is necessary to put a vehicle on the road. There are different kinds of licence, each of which sets down different conditions and rules including the maximum number of passengers and how and where a taxi vehicle can operate. The following identifies the different kinds of licence, the associated colour of licence plate and how different taxis may work.

Full Taxi Licence (Yellow Plate) – Permitted to pick up passengers at any public rank, pick up casual passengers from the street and to carry out pre-booked hires usually through a licensed radio office. Cannot sit at private ranks at the airport or railway (unless displaying special permits for these ranks).

Private Hire Licence (Red Plate) – Permitted to carry out pre-booked hires only, usually through a licensed radio office. Cannot sit at public ranks, pick up casual passengers from the street, or sit at the private airport or railway ranks.

Airport Licence (Green Plate) – Permitted to pick up passengers from the airport private ranks and to carry out pre-booked hires, usually through the airport radio office. Cannot sit at public ranks, pick up casual passengers from the street or sit at the private railway rank.

Disabled Licence – Vehicles which have been adapted with wheelchair access for the disabled can be granted a licence. Usually a full taxi licence (Yellow Plate) which in addition to normal conditions allows the vehicles to participate in special schemes for disable persons.

The Local Authority Licensing Board limits the number of taxi licences and mostly they are granted only to vehicle owners. If you want more information or details about how to apply for a Taxi Licence, contact the Taxi Inspector’s Office.