Definition of a taxi/private hire car

The definition of a taxi and private hire car is set out in section 23 of the 1982 Act.

Section 23 says:

"taxi" means a hire car which is engaged, by arrangements made in a public place between the person to be conveyed in it (or a person acting on his behalf) and its driver for a journey beginning there and then; and "private hire car" means a hire car other than a taxi within the meaning of this subsection.

The definition provides that both a taxi and a private hire car are "hire cars". A taxi may ply for hire in a public place for a journey beginning at that point in time. This means taxis may ply for hire at taxi ranks, stations, airports, etc and may be hailed in the street. A private hire car may not ply for hire and must be pre-booked.