Can I ask you to look at the backs of taxis in your area

[mumda]

Next time you go out and get stuck behind a private hire taxi could you look at the plate and see where it is registered.
Many of them in my area are registered out of area.
Why?

I suggest you need to wonder about whether it's a good idea for taxi drivers to deviate from the route set by their app.

Greater Manchester and all the Ubers are Wolverhampton except last week when I got one who is registered to the actual council area we are in. I know in Manchester private/minicabs have to be silver coloured cars and under 5 years old to first register.

Wolverhampton is making a packet from it. Something like 16k licences issued

In Brum, there are black cabs, all of which should be able to take a wheelchair.

However because Birmingham City Council (possibly supported by the last government) refused to exempt taxis from the CAZ, you can wait well over an hour for a cab (if you're lucky).

That being said, Uber Access (note: not Uber Assist) are now running in Brum (depending when and where). Could be a game changer.

I've seen a fair few Wolverhampton registered taxis operating in Shropshire. Apparently it's easier to get a licence in Wolverhampton.

I spotted a Wolverhampton registered Taxi a couple of weeks ago at the traffic lights, I am in Colchester Essex,I thought it was odd.

What a racket!
I see loads of taxis near where I work, as there are hardly any buses and restrictions on cars, I will be looking at the registration from now on.

We’re MK and most are registered in Aylesbury from what I’ve seen.

Same, I'm near Coventry and it's always Wolverhampton.

There was something on TV about this where council who had enforced stricter licencing rules were frustrated that drivers were instead registering elsewhere and avoiding the stricter safeguards being put in place and other area was raking in the money from all the applications to them

This article from last year says Wolverhampton is significantly cheaper than Manchester to register in https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/youre-never-far-wolverhampton-taxi-29105833#google_vignette

And the 2019 Abdel-Haq report for the government which got sidelined by covid. Details here https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5f76f9308fa8f55e36671b26/taxi-task-and-finish-gov-response.pdf

I'm alarmed at the idea that Wolverhampton is 'easier' with less checks.

Someone I know works at a taxi place and I caught up with him this week and he says our authority only allows them to register outside of area for 2 years. He did say his concern is the language skills - from a work point of view -it makes life harder for him.

Different rules, lower fees and faster processing is usually the reason.

My council used to have a lot working out of area but they must have changed a policy.

The issue is if you get in a taxi registered elsewhere then if anything toes wrong your local council can't deal with it.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crkdld58nv6o

"A spokesperson for the council said: “While City of Wolverhampton Council has never actively encouraged applications from drivers outside the city, existing legislation requires that if an application is submitted and requirements are met, then the application must be granted. Applicants have always been able to apply to any licensing authority for taxi licences and the council cannot refuse an applicant simply because they live in a different area."

I've only used Uber in the last 10+ years, didn't realise people still used taxis

Most of them are registered in Wolverhampton as it’s the cheapest.

@NeedZzzzzssss Uber drivers also have to be licensed - they are driving private hire vehicles.

I’m near Manchester and most are Wolverhampton or Sefton councils.

an uber driver did explain why to me once, but I can’t really remember, apparently it was easier but I’m not sure why…

Strangely my friend noticed the taxi we booked was registered in Wolverhampton too. We are miles away from Wolverhampton.

Lol, we haven't even had Ubers in our area for over 10 years! A couple of years if that

I'm in Bath and North East Somerset but I'm a mile from the boundaries with Bristol City Council and with South Gloucestershire Council. I'm also about 5 miles from the boundary with North Somerset Council. Its very common to see taxis registered to the other authorities around here.

@Satonatrain we saw a sefton one today! Right next to a Wolverhampton one.
I'm North east Manchester.

Yep im in the North West and its plenty of Wolverhampton around here

You will find a majority of ones that are plated from different Areas are usually Ubers Also Wolverhampton are less strict on allowing people too obtain their Taxi Badge and Licence through them so more and more people go there

Im a Dual Taxi Driver in Hampshire (17 years+) and since Covid we have seen Hundreds and Hundreds of Wolverhampton Plated private hire taxis comei into the area so many that one firm in the next city will only have drivers who are registered there

I havent read the whole thread. What does it matter?

I live in Gedling borough and most of ours are Wolverhampton!