What's the difference between Private Hire and Taxis?

Probablly a question you've never asked yourself, you probablly call them both taxi's but there are a few major differences that could probablly save you a few pennies.

In Leeds the differences between Taxi and Private Hire are becoming less and less, there however remains 2 major differences:

1. Taxi's can pickup anyone from the street, private hire can only pick pre-booked journeys
2. Taxi prices are set by the council, private hire firms set their own.

  Knowing this is the key to saving yourself money. Imagine all those nights on the town and jumping into the first "taxi" that appeared. Then when you woke up the following morning realising you got charged nearly twice as much as you normally pay. Unfortunately this happens all to often.
  Worse still had you been involved in an accident, due to the private hire driver acting illegally and picking up off the street you would not have been insured either. Not to mention a whole host of other potentially dangerous senarios you could be getting yourself into.
  Why do you do it? Because you think it works out cheaper than getting a Black and White Taxi. Strange as it seems 9/10 times this is not the case. Unless you book it with a private hire operator you are liabile to get ripped off and pay more than you would if you'd have got the "expensive" black & white.


Our advise: Either book with reputable private hire company OR get in a Black & White Taxi