PHV vs taxi rules

The handbook says it plainly: a PHV is not a taxi (black cab). Many of the rules you must follow come from that one difference.

Bookings are everything

• You can only carry out bookings you have received from a licensed London PHV operator, in a London licensed PHV with its licence discs displayed (unless exempt).
• You must not pick people up on the street, or at stations or airports, unless they booked through a licensed operator. That includes the street outside your operator's office.
• Do not let anyone get in before you have received the booking from your operator.
• Do not give any sign, or say anything, that suggests you are available for hire without a booking.
• If someone approaches you without a booking, you may hand out a business card with your operator's number, or give another contact detail such as a website.
• Never accept a booking from an unlicensed operator. If in doubt, ask for the operator licence number and check it on TfL's online licence checker.

Outside a late-night venue, do not approach people on the pavement to offer rides. The handbook says doing so may be an offence and could lead to prosecution.

Where PHVs may and may not stop

Place	Rule
Taxi ranks	Never park, wait, pick up or drop off, even briefly.
Electric taxi charge points	Do not park or wait on them or use them to charge a PHV.
Bus lanes	PHVs are not allowed to drive in them. You may pick up or drop off in most, though you should avoid it if possible.
Bus stop clearways and wide red line bus stops	Do not stop.
Zig-zag lines, pedestrian clearways	Never stop.
Single or double yellow or red lines, most parking bays	You can pick up or drop off, but not wait, so only stop long enough for passengers to get in or out.

Breaking these rules can bring a fine, and the handbook says TfL may also take licensing action, including suspending or revoking your licence for taxi rank and charge point offences. You can receive a penalty charge notice (PCN) even if no officer is present.

Red routes

You can pick up or drop off on single or double red lines but you cannot wait there. The one exception in the handbook is waiting for a passenger to use a cashpoint between 22:00 and 06:00, for no more than five minutes.

Airports

Airports are private property with their own byelaws. At Heathrow you cannot enter to pick up unless you have a booking or are using an official car park or the PHV Authorised Vehicle Area to wait. The taxi ranks at Heathrow and London City are for licensed taxis only.

Journeys outside Greater London

You may do a booking accepted by a licensed London PHV operator where the pick-up or destination is outside Greater London. If you are unsure whether a journey is legal, ask your operator.

Fares

The handbook says TfL has no power to set or control PHV fares. Your operator agrees a fare or gives an accurate estimate before the journey. Tell your operator as soon as it is safe if the destination changes or there are extra passengers or luggage.

Other things to remember

• Do not leave the engine running while you wait.
• Never drop passengers off in the middle of the road. Get close to the kerb.
• Do not refuse passengers because they are disabled or travelling with an assistance dog.