HACKNEY CARRIAGE VEHICLES

Hackney Carriage Vehicles – Quantity control

For Hackney Carriage Vehicles, the Authority can and does limit the number of vehicles that are licensed.  The Authority has a policy of managed growth which will conclude with open access to this market. 

Hackney Carriage Fares

The Authority does regulate Hackney Carriage Fares and details of these are available using the link below.

Bedford Taxi Fares

Proposed Hackney Carriage Fares 2013

Inspection Standards

All vehicles submitted for a Hackney Carriage Vehicle Licence will need to make their vehicle available for a mechanical inspection (for details of the inspection, see link below)

Manual Inspection of Vehicles

Details of Wheelchair Accessible requirements are set out in the new Manual of Inspection at Section 6 (page 30) and Section 11 (pages 50-52).

PRIVATE HIRE VEHICLES

Private Hire Vehicles – Quantity control

The Authority has no power to limit the number of private hire vehicles

Private Hire Fares

The Authority has no power to set the maximum fares for journeys in Private Hire Vehicles.  It is important that passengers in Private Hire Vehicles agree the fare to be charged before the journey starts.

Inspection Standards

All vehicles submitted for a Private Hire Vehicle Licence will need to make their vehicle available for a mechanical inspection (for details of the inspection, see link below)

Manual Inspection of Vehicles

Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles

Details of Wheelchair Accessible requirements are set out in the new Manual of Inspection at Section 6 (page 30) and Section 11 (pages 50-52).

HACKNEY CARRIAGE / PRIVATE HIRE DRIVERS

Knowledge Tests

In relation to Drivers of Hackney Carriages and Private Hire Vehicles, the Authority requires all applicants who have not already passed a Test (or have had a gap in the licence period of 6 months or more) to pass the Knowledge of the Bedford Area Test (for details of the Test, see link below).

Knowledge Test Syllabus

English Language Skills

An English Assessment is also required for those who have not already passed such an assessment (or have had a gap in the licence period of 6 months or more).  Details of the Assessment can be found at the link below

English Assessment

Driving Skills

Where applicants have not already passed the Driving Standards Agency’s Driving Skills Assessment  (or have had a gap in the licence period of 6 months or more) they will be required to pass such an Assessment.  Details of the Assessment can be found at the link below

Direct Gov – DSA

Criminal Records Check

All drivers will also be asked to submit an enhanced criminal record check from the Criminal Records Bureau (see link to CRB below)

Criminal Records Bureau

The Authority also has the following relevant policies (further policies are explained in the guidance notes to these applications).

Convictions & Character Policy for Hackney Carriage, Private Hire Drivers & Operators, 2011

Policy of Secure Storage of Disclosures

PRIVATE HIRE OPERATORS

Criminal Records Check

All private hire operators will also be asked to submit a basic criminal record check from the Disclosure Scotland (link below)

Disclosure Scotland

The Authority also has the following relevant policy:

Convictions & Character Policy for Hackney Carriage, Private Hire Drivers & Operators 2011.