Taxi and private hire
Taxi Licensing Policy
Cheshire East Council has recent approved a new taxi licensing policy. This policy is due to take effect from the 1 November 2022. All applications and taxi matters received after the 1 November will be processed and determined in line with this policy. Any previous policies or conditions will be superseded.
Taxi and private hire licensing
If you want to carry passengers for hire and reward – the reward could be money or not – using a vehicle with eight passenger seats or fewer, you will need a licence. For example, a hotel offering a pick-up or drop-off service will need a licence, even if the passengers don’t pay a fee.
There are two main types of vehicle that we can license for public hire:
- Private Hire – with this licence, you can only work from private hire operators base.
- Hackney Carriage – with this licence you can work from the town’s taxi ranks and be hailed on the street. Hackney carriages can also work through a private hire operator.
For private hire or hackney carriage work, both the driver and vehicle must be licensed. A driver of the vehicle may also need an operator’s licence if they are taking private hire bookings directly.
Hackney carriage and private hire licensing policy 2022-2027 (PDF, 1.6MB)
Report an accident involving a taxi
This online form can be completed by or on behalf of the driver of the vehicle or a person involved in or witnessing the accident. The form will take 10 minutes to complete.
Report an accident involving a licensed vehicle
To find out how we use your information see our privacy notice (opens in a new window).
Complain about a taxi
Use this online form to complain about a taxi driver, a taxi vehicle or a taxi operator. The form will take 10 minutes to complete.
Make a complaint about a taxi
Access to public computers in Cheshire East
There are public access computers in most libraries in Cheshire East and the Crewe and Macclesfield Customer Service Centres.
Privacy notice
Contact us
Licensing Team | Cheshire East Council
Regulatory Services and Health C/O
Delamere House, Delamere Street
Crewe
CW1 2LL
Page last reviewed: 29 June 2023
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