We are responsible for licensing taxis, private hire cars and their drivers. We also regulate bookings offices (radios bases) that are used to book a taxi or private hire car.
As a regulator we are committed to ensuring that the city's taxi and private hire car businesses operate in a professional manner and provide a safe and secure service for passengers.
The main difference between taxis and private hire cars is that only taxis can be hailed from the street (there and then hires) or pick passengers up at licensed stances (ranks).
Taxis
Private hire cars
The fare you pay for a journey depends on whether you travel in a taxi or private hire car and where you plan to go.
Taxis
The Licensing Authority is responsible for setting the fares that taxis can charge passengers for journeys within the city boundary.
All taxis have a meter fitted and a "fare card" setting out how fares are calculated should be clearly displayed to passengers within the taxi.
It is important to note that journeys outwith the city boundary are not regulated by the Licensing Authority. Taxi Drivers are not obligated to take you to a destination outwith the City. If the driver agrees to a journey outwith the boundary you should agree your fare prior to the journey commencing.
Some drivers may agree a flat fee for the journey others may choose to use their taxi meter to calculate the fare for journey and then add an additional charge - often called a boundary charge - onto the fare. In any event the driver must leave the taxi metre running throughout the journey.
Private hire cars
The Licensing Authority is not responsible for setting the fares that Private Hire Cars charge. The Booking Office that the vehicle is attached to will set the fares.
When pre-booking your journey you should check how much you will be charged.
Taxis:
As a passenger in a licensed taxi you have the right to expect:
Private hire cars:
As a passenger in a licensed private hire car you have the right to expect:
There are numerous authorised taxi stances (ranks) located throughout the city where taxis may wait for customers.
These stances have been provided where a demand has been identified, such as outside large establishments like bus and rail stations, hotels, supermarkets, night clubs, hospitals etc.
Authorised stances can be operational for 24 hours or part time, such as evening only. Ranks are identified by signage identifying the hours of operation and the number of taxis allowed to rank. At weekends certain busy city centre stances may be supported by taxi marshals to manage queues.
Stances may be used by taxis but cannot be used by private hire cars.
If you believe you have left property in a taxi or private hire car you can do the following:
For pre-booked journeys
You should contact the booking office in the first instance who will be able to contact the driver to determine if they have your property.
For journeys in licensed taxis that were not pre-booked
If you flagged a taxi down in the street or at a rank then you can contact our taxi and private hire enforcement unit in the first instance who will endeavour to identify the taxi and put you in contact with the driver.
If you would like to make a comment or complaint about a taxi or private hire car driver or operator you can contact the enforcement unit by on the make a complaint form.
Please note that matters of alleged criminality or potential breaches of road traffic laws should be directed to Police Scotland and not to the Enforcement Unit.
City of Glasgow Licensing Board
Licensing Section
City Chambers
Glasgow
G2 1DU