App based companies

Businesses that operate private hire bookings only

All private hire vehicle journeys must be pre-booked through the holder of a private hire operator licence (PHOL) and are subject to a ‘triple licensing lock’. This means the PHOL fulfilling the booking must use vehicles and drivers licensed by the same authority as that which granted its licence.

Following the relaxation on sub-contracting rules for private hire vehicles that came into effect on 1 October 2015, any licensed private hire operator can also sub-contract bookings to other licensed private hire operators in other local authority districts so that the operator can send an appropriately licensed vehicle and driver.

There is nothing in the legislation that restricts, in any way, the trading area of any private hire operator.

Whilst it may be interpreted that companies that undertake app-based bookings are taking advantage of this, they continue to conduct their business lawfully as long as they hold a PHOL and any work they sub-contract is lawfully allocated.

Private hire operator licence

Uber and similar app-based companies do not currently hold a private hire operator licence with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council.

If you intend to undertake pre-booked private hire work only, you must also hold a PHOL with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to enable you to take the booking.

If you intend to work for an app-based company (such as Uber, Lyft, Gett, Bolt) you must hold a PHOL with Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council.

Without your own operator’s licence, all bookings from these businesses are illegal, all journeys are uninsured, you may face prosecution, and your licences will be revoked.

Hackney carriage vehicle bookings

Holders of taxi licences are permitted to carry pre-booked fares anywhere in England and Wales, reflecting that taxi drivers may carry passengers beyond the boundary of their licensing authority, the 'compellable area', and seek a return fare to avoid additional miles without a fare. This was demonstrated in the Court of Appeal Judgment in the case Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council v Alan Fidler and others, Appeal Court reference Number CO/5268/2010, when the court found that a Hackney carriage licensed anywhere in the country can be used for private hire bookings predominantly or solely in a completely different district, which again can be anywhere in the country, except London.

It is not an offence for a licensed private hire operator in Hinckley & Bosworth to take bookings, and then dispatch a Hackney carriage vehicle, licensed by another district to undertake your journey.

Once a vehicle has been licensed as a Hackney carriage, it is a Hackney carriage for the duration of that licence and can be used for pre-booked purposes in any district in England and Wales except London.

The only drawback with this loophole in the legislation is that it may cause friction with the local Hackney carriage trade, so this must be a consideration for taxi and private hire companies who sub-contract work.

Fare charges

Please note that if a taxi carries out any pre-booked work for journeys that start and end in Hinckley and Bosworth borough, they must not charge more than the metered fare that is set by the council. If they do, they may be breaking the law and, if found guilty, may face prosecution and (or) a review of their hackney carriage or private hire driver’s licence.

Also, journeys that start in Hinckley and Bosworth and terminate outside the borough area must also be charged at the metered fare, unless an agreement has taken place before the journey begins.

This may be relevant as some operators or app-based firms quote a fare to be accepted by the customer before the journey commences, so drivers should be aware of this piece of legislation.

Last updated:‎ 07/05/2025 16:18