A 'Hackney Carriage' is more commonly called a taxi. Hackney Carriages are permitted to pick up passengers from taxi ranks within a specific area but may also be hailed or flagged down in the street. Fares are regulated by the council and must be displayed on a meter fitted in the vehicle.
Hackney Carriages are currently only allowed to take fares in the area of County Durham for which they hold a license. They are also required to comply with the current tariffs for that area.
For vehicles which were licensed before 1 April 2009, there is a transitional period in which to comply with emission standards defined by Durham County Council's Policy on Hackney Carriage and Private Hire. This period runs until 31 March 2014 or until the vehicle is replaced.
All Hackney Carriage vehicles licensed after 1 April 2009 must comply with the requirements of the policy.
Our policy
Download 
Taxi policy.pdf (29 pages, 103kb)
What you must do
To apply for a Hackney Carriage licence, you must:
- complete an application form
- pay the licence fee, determined by the zone in which you will be licensed
- provide evidence of valid insurance and ownership for the vehicle you wish to license
- provide a valid Certificate of Compliance from the council's vehicle workshops
Vehicleapplication.pdf (7 pages, 180kb)
What we must do
Once we receive your form, we are legally obliged to:
- assess your application
- inform you of our decision
- inform you of your right to appeal if refused
We are also obliged to disclose relevant information to other organisations if requested. These organisations include:
- Inland Revenue
- Police
- Department for Work and Pensions
- Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs
- Child Support Agency