Explanation of badges and vehicles

To find out more about applying to drive a taxi or private hire vehicle see Business Link taxi or private hire vehicle information.

We issue 2 types of driver’s licences:

• Dual drivers licence

• Private hire drivers licence 

A dual driver’s licence allows the licensee to drive either a Hackney carriage taxi or a private hire vehicle. The badge must be plainly visible at all times and will show licence number - beginning with DD, full name, a photo and an expiry date.

A private hire driver’s licence only allows the licensee to drive a private hire vehicle. The badge must be plainly visible at all times and will show the licence number - beginning with PHD, full name, a photo and an expiry date.

There are 2 types of vehicle: 

• Private hire vehicles
• Hackney carriage vehicles

Private hire vehicles

Private hire vehicles must be pre-booked through one of our Licensed Operators. These vehicles cannot and must not be hailed in the street and they cannot use the taxi ranks. If they do, they are in breach of their licences and contravening the legislation, and any passengers will not be covered by insurance should there be an accident.

At the rear of the vehicle a yellow licence plate will be displayed detailing the vehicles registration number, make, model and colour, the expiry date of the licence and how many passengers it is permitted to carry.

A meter can be fitted in the vehicle, but the rate is not regulated by us. The fare should be agreed at the time of booking with the operator.

Any private hire vehicle submitted for licensing for the first time must be less than 5 years old from the date of first registration, and will continue to be licensed only until the vehicle is 8 years old.

Hackney carriage vehicle

All Hackney carriages have an illuminated roof sign displaying the words either 'Taxi' or 'For Hire.' Every hackney carriage will have a meter, where the fare is regulated by us. At the rear of the vehicle a white licence plate will be displayed detailing the vehicles registration number, make, model and colour, the expiry date of the licence and how many passengers it is permitted to carry.

If a hackney carriage vehicle is wheelchair accessible on the licence plate at the rear it will be displaying a wheelchair symbol.

Hackney Carriages can be hailed in the street and they can also pick up from the following designated ranks. These are the only ranks within the area: 

• Outside Nat West Bank, Broad Street, Wokingham
• Wokingham Railway Station
• Twyford Railway Station

Any Hackney carriage vehicle submitted for licensing must be wheelchair accessible. Any Hackney carriage vehicle that has been modified or converted after manufacture must have a standard SVA test and the pass certificate must be provided at the time of licence application. This can be obtained through the Vehicle Operating Standards Agency - VOSA.

Any Hackney carriage vehicle that has been purpose built at manufacture must have a VCA type approval certificate, which must be presented at the time of licence application. All parts used in the conversion must be M or MI approved.

All vehicles are independently inspected for roadworthiness to a standard exceeding government MOT requirements. Vehicles can be tested at one of our nominated testing stations.

Vehicles up to 5 years old from the date of first registration will be subject to an annual inspection. Vehicles which are five years or older, will be subject to an inspection every 6 months.