Taxi information

Hackney carriages have a 'taxi' roof sign and a calibrated meter to calculate the fare. They can pick up from designated taxi ranks or be hailed in the street. There is no legal requirement for an advance booking.

The vehicle must display a white hackney carriage vehicle licence (known as a plate) on the outside rear of the vehicle. The driver must wear or display an ID badge which details their:

• name
• licence number
• the expiry date of the licence.

Number of passengers

The licence plate will state how many passengers the vehicle is licensed to carry.

• Hackney carriage saloon vehicles can carry four passengers.
• People carriers or wheelchair accessible vehicles can carry up to eight passengers.

Destination

The fares are set by the local authority and a table of fares must be clearly displayed in the vehicle.

• For journeys with a destination within the Slough boundary, the cost of the journey is calculated by the meter.
• Outside the Slough boundary, the fare can be negotiated with the passenger before the journey starts.

Extra road usage charges

Before pulling away, as well as the metered or pre-agreed fare, the driver of the vehicle must discuss extra road usage charges, which may be payable by the passenger(s) depending on the journey pick-up and/or drop-off point.

Extra charge examples include: airport charges, congestion charges, emission charges and toll road fees.  Drivers must also discuss if there are routes which avoid these charges or if there is a free option for drop off at an airport.

Cost of the fare

Vehicles licenced for 5 or more passengers

Single vehicles, which are licenced for 5 or more passengers, and hired by:

• 4 or fewer adult passengers are charged at fare rates 1, 2, 3 or 4
• at least 5 adult passengers are charged at fare rates 1B, 2B, 3B or 4B.

The 4 passenger charge applies only when hired by 4 adult passengers.

Vehicles licenced for 4 or fewer passengers

Vehicles licenced for maximum 4 passengers are only metered at the fare rates 1, 2, 3 or 4.

The 4 passenger charge applies only when hired by 4 adult passengers.

What is an adult passenger

An adult passenger is classed as age 18 or over and does not have special educational needs such as a carer / support assistant to accompany the individual passenger, unless they have the authorisation of an adult (18+) with the capability to contract.

For the purposes of clarity to the Disability Discrimination Act, any individual with a defined disability travelling with a carer / support assistant must be treated as one (1) passenger when hiring a vehicle.

Children under the age of 18 are permitted to hire a taxi but the fare structure and additional fees must be explained to them before hiring.

Reasonable adjustments must be made by the driver for any passenger.

Fare rate numbers 1, 2 3 and 4 - Passenger Hackney fare chart

Where applicable, VAT is included in all charges.

Fare rate numbers 1B, 2B, 3B and 4B - Passenger Hackney fare chart

Where applicable, VAT is included in all charges.