Taxis well off their usual patch

[birchesgreen]

Yesterday, i was driving behind a fairly modern black cab, going into a shopping park in Castle Vale, Birmingham. Nothing that unusual there, but then i noticed the taxi had a Transport for London badge on it! I assume it was being used as a private vehicle or on test but otherwise that would be a very decent fare!

So, what taxis have you seen a long way from where they are registered and usually operate? A few years ago i remember seeing a Guildford taxi heading into Sutton Coldfield.

Have you ever taken a taxi for a very long trip (hopefully someone else was paying!)

 

[61653 HTAFC]

This is a much more fiddly discussion since taxi/private hire licencing was liberalised, as you can see locally-based cabs with plates from distant local authorities. See the discussion about Wolverhampton-plated cabs.

Rail Replacement work can send taxis quite some distance at times. I once had a Liverpool-licenced taxi to Shrewsbury.

 

[Darandio]

See the discussion about Wolverhampton-plated cabs.

I was about to say this. I'd wager that the vast majority of private hire vehicles here on Teesside are Wolverhampton plated.

 

[birchesgreen]

I was about to say this. I'd wager that the vast majority of private hire vehicles here on Teesside are Wolverhampton plated.

Thats interesting, i see Wolverhampton and Sandwell ones in Brum a lot but they arn't that far away!

 

[GusB]

It's not unusual to see Aberdeen plated taxis around here. People returning from offshore will often share a taxi from the| heliport rather than waiting for the train. Most of the big oil companies have contracts with one of the major cab firms and some will pay for taxis to get staff to the heliport for very early morning flights when there's no public transport option.

The company I worked for would regularly have trips to Glasgow or Edinburgh if the airport was fog- or snow-bound and I recall one notable journey to London that made the local paper. There was also lots of work for train operating companies

Likewise, taxis from around here will occasionally do airport runs, either to Aberdeen or Inverness. One local firm does NHS work too, ferrying things between hospitals.

 

[185143]

I've noticed in Warrington it's only Ubers that are Wolverhampton registered. That said, it's not uncommon to see Manchester/Bolton/Sefton ones. But not unreasonable to imagine they may have ended up in Warrington rather than be based there. I've certainly brought Manchester Ubers down the M62 a few times, and I've had Manchester based drivers who've just taken someone to John Lennon Airport before and Warrington looked busy so they've stopped off for a bit on the way home.

The local taxi firms all seem to be Warrington Borough Council plated. I assume the taxi companies must insist on it? Or the council do but Uber have a loophole of "our drivers aren't technically based anywhere"?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I see lots of Wolverhampton's around in Manchester - I haven't paid attention to the operator.
I can't specifically recall any others.

 

[birchesgreen]

Ok lets make it taxi company cars that are a long way off patch.

The Guildford one i saw in Sutton Coldfield was one of these.

 

[DarloRich]

In Milton Keynes we have a lot of Wolverhampton registered mini cabs

 

[gazthomas]

I regularly see Liverpool or Manchester registered taxis here in Llandudno. While some may be on jobs, others look like say trips with their family.

 

[cool110]

The local taxi firms all seem to be Warrington Borough Council plated. I assume the taxi companies must insist on it? Or the council do but Uber have a loophole of "our drivers aren't technically based anywhere"?

It's a legal requirement for PHV vehicle, driver, and operator licenses to be from the same council. So the Uber drivers have to be based where the offices are.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

It's a legal requirement for PHV vehicle, driver, and operator licenses to be from the same council. So the Uber drivers have to be based where the offices are.

Most of the cabs round my way have both branding for the operator, and Uber branding. The operator has offices in Batley, Dewsbury and Heckmondwike (and possibly other towns too) which are all in Kirklees, but some vehicles have "foreign" private hire licence plates.

 

[thejuggler]

The TFL driver my have had a lucky touch, but London taxis are built in Coventry so not far from where it was spotted.

Just this weekend I did see a TX4 black cab 250 miles from London. It was owned by a pub landlord who used it as a very reliable 'van' for his pub and other businesses!

Most 'Leeds' private hires are Bradford badged. A pain as none of them have a clue as few have a good knowledge of Leeds.

 

[Tetchytyke]

It's a legal requirement for PHV vehicle, driver, and operator licenses to be from the same council. So the Uber drivers have to be based where the offices are

Are you sure that is the case? Around 35% of all private hire vehicles in Greater Manchester are actually registered in Wolverhampton.

 

[NoMorePacers]

Aside from the obvious Wolverhampton vehicles, the most "exotic" legitimate taxis I've seen in and around Hull would be York/Leeds/Bradford ones (not that far I suppose).

 

[cool110]

Are you sure that is the case? Around 35% of all private hire vehicles in Greater Manchester are actually registered in Wolverhampton.

Those are "based there" mostly just on paper, only have to physically be there for the inspection on licence application/renewal

 

[Class73Electro]

Lot of "Wolverhampton" taxis working in Portsmouth, so only 170 miles out!

Rest are all mainly Portsmouth, Southampton and Havant

 

[greyman42]

You see plenty of cabs from the West Yorkshire area in York as there is a good tourist trade.

 

[pokemonsuper9]

I saw a taxi (London style black cab) with a Swansea University advertisement on it earlier - but couldn't read the licencing authority on the licence plate.
Either way a Swansea University ad must be far from its usual territory.

 

[JD2168]

There are loads of Wolverhampton licensed taxis in Sheffield. You see some on odd occasions from outside the area like Leeds or Wakefield but these tend to be rare. Most from outside tend to be Chesterfield, Rotherham or Barnsley private hires presumably going to & from the station particularly for the London service

 

[sheff1]

Quite often see Rossendale taxis in Sheffield - I think they are another 'Wolverhampton'

 

[SargeNpton]

I saw a taxi (London style black cab) with a Swansea University advertisement on it earlier - but couldn't read the licencing authority on the licence plate.
Either way a Swansea University ad must be far from its usual territory.

London style black cabs can be seen in many parts of the country. If you have a vehicle that meets accessibility regs for taxis it would be daft just to market it only in London. At one stage all taxis in Northampton were "London" taxis, but the range of vehicles used in the last few years has widened.

 

[thejuggler]

I've only ever seen a couple of LEVC taxis in Leeds. The issue with London black cabs is they are very much designed for London taxi trips and streets and TFL regulations which are much tighter than other cities.

As a result they cost £70k, rather than £20k for a 'normal' car which is suitable elsewhere.

 

[Snow1964]

I have seen a Yorkshire registered one dropping off at Southampton cruise terminal

 

[Full Standing]

Has anyone ever seen a cab from abroad on British soil (like a French one in, say, Kent)?

 

[SargeNpton]

As a result they cost £70k, rather than £20k for a 'normal' car which is suitable elsewhere.

Guessing that £20k is a typo.

 

[thejuggler]

Guessing that £20k is a typo.

Not at all. Many Leeds hackney cabs are Berlingos and the Peugeot equivalents and JDM imported Toyotas.

 

[route101]

Has anyone ever seen a cab from abroad on British soil (like a French one in, say, Kent)?

No, but I have seen UK taxis abroad but they usually take the plates off. I wonder if you can take taxis across the channel, more likely to drop you off at the port now.

 

[Trackman]

I've seen a Tameside plate on my street (SE London)
I passed it in the morning, and it was still there, not sure what was going on, btw it wasn't an Uber.

Has anyone ever seen a cab from abroad on British soil (like a French one in, say, Kent)?

I bet there are some old Hackney cabs knocking about abroad - if they are fit for hire is another things.

 

[JD2168]

On Friday I saw a Calderdale plated taxi in Sheffield