Taxis

Both are licensed by the local District Councils and are required to display a plate stating its licence number, the local authority it is licensed by and the maximum number of passengers it is licensed to carry.  The driver must wear or display an official badge. All licensed drivers on Merseyside are subject to an enhanced level Criminal Records Bureau check before being licensed.

Hackney cabs can be flagged down in the street or boarded at a Taxi Rank without prior booking to take you anywhere. Only if the journey exceeds four miles beyond the borough boundary AND if the driver tells you at point of hire can he charge a greater rate than shown on the Council's fare table. Fares are measured by a meter and charged according to an approved scale, for distance and waiting times. Any "extra" charge that a driver can make will be listed on the Council-approved fare table. Any other overcharge is illegal.

Private hire vehicles must be booked in advance through a licensed Operator and can pick up or drop off passengers anywhere in the country whether inside or outside of their own licensing district. Fares are agreed between the driver and passenger in accordance with the Private Hire Operator's scale of charges and if a meter is used, it must be sealed approved and tested by the District Council.