Career opportunities

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Taxi & Private Hire Driver

Taxi and private hire drivers have to find the fastest and safest routes to take their passengers to their chosen destinations. They need a licence to operate and there are strict rules about who can be a driver and where they can work.

Taxi drivers drive 'black cabs' which can display a taxi light, pick up people on the street, be pre-booked or wait at a taxi rank. Private hire drivers have 'minicabs' which are not allowed to pick up people who hail them in the street; their passengers must book their journey through a minicab office. Private hire and taxi drivers have radios or in-car computers which link them to their control room or office; this enables them to know what bookings have been made. Drivers also have to take fares, and keep track of the money they have taken.

Many taxi and private hire drivers are self-employed, owning their own vehicle and managing their own accounts. Other drivers are employed by larger companies; they may still own their own vehicle, or may lease one from their employer. Drivers have to make sure that their vehicles are kept in good working order and have to put them through checks for roadworthiness on a regular basis.

Taxi and private hire drivers can earn between approximately £13000 and £18000 a year. Income can depend upon hours worked and services delivered. Some drivers can earn up to £30000 each year.

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Working environment

Taxi and private hire drivers can work long hours. Many of them work variable hours, and workings hours can rely on passenger demand - for example, in city centres, there can be a lot of fares on Friday and Saturday nights. This means that part-time and shift working can also be common.

Taxi and private hire drivers have to be prepared to spend a lot of their working day sat behind the wheel of their car. They can also spend a lot of time waiting around for passengers. Drivers can find themselves out in all weathers and driving conditions; they also may have to deal with heavy traffic and road congestion.
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Skills and interests

The most obvious interest for a taxi or private hire driver is that they like driving. They must also enjoy interacting with people, as they will get to meet lots of different people in the course of their work.

Skills required to be a successful taxi or private hire driver are:-
- excellent driving skills
- thorough understanding of regulations and road safety
- confidence in communication, including dealing with the occasional 'difficult' customer
- navigation skills and the ability to remember routes and local landmarks
- numeracy
- patience and concentration

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Entry into the role

There are no specific academic requirements to become a driver. Taxi and private hire drivers do however need to obtain a licence, which is issued by the local authority.

Each local authority has its own standards and criteria for issuing licences and these can include:
- holding a driving licence for at least 12 months (3 years in London)
- being over 21 (18 in Northern Ireland) and able to obtain sufficient insurance cover
- passing a criminal records check
- passing a medical assessment.
Applicants for a licence are also likely to be tested on their local area knowledge and possibly on their driving skills as well. The entry requirements to be a taxi driver may be more stringent than those to be a private hire driver.

Taxi and private hire drivers also have to get their vehicles licensed. The vehicle is checked to make sure that it is safe and suitable for use as a passenger carrying vehicle. The vehicle then has to be inspected regularly and must meet requirements over and above the normal MOT test standards.

Jobs are available in every part of the country, but most work is in large towns and cities. Jobs can be advertised in the local press or at employment agencies or organisations such as Jobcentre Plus.
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Opportunities

If a taxi or private hire driver starts out by driving a vehicle for a company, they may look to buy their own vehicle and start their own business. Drivers who work on their own, can look to expand their business by employing other drivers. 

Taxi drivers can also study for industry-related qualifications. These include:
- Edexcel Level 2 BTEC award in transporting passengers by taxi and private hire
- Level 2 NVQ in road passenger vehicle driving (offered by City & Guilds, EDI and Edexcel)
- EDI level 2 NVQ in road passenger transport operations
- EDI level 3 NVQ in road passenger transport operations.

 

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Useful links

• Taxi and Private Hire Monthly (magazine)

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Case Studies

• TAXI & PRIVATE HIRE - taxi driver
  Alan Parker, a London taxi driver, speaks about his work.
  Download case study document
• TAXI & PRIVATE HIRE - taxi driver
  See an interview with taxi driver Paul Barrow (links to Jobs4U careers database)
  View case study (external website)
• TAXI & PRIVATE HIRE- private hire driver
  Dragon Taxis' private hire driver Meinir Jones talks about her work.
  Download case study document

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