The fares for taxi journeys are set by the district/borough council and are displayed on a taximeter fitted in the vehicle (which can be checked by the council to confirm that they are operating at the set tariff). If the journey takes the vehicle outside the district a different fare may be agreed before the journey begins. The councils do not set the fares for private hire vehicles and any person hiring a private hire vehicle should agree the fare with the operator before starting a journey.

Both types of vehicle are licensed by the district/borough councils. They are inspected for mechanical condition and adequacy of insurance, etc.

Taxi and private hire vehicle drivers are licensed. Before a licence is granted the applicant must satisfy certain conditions, ranging from a search by the Criminal Records Bureau to vocational medical examinations and completion of driver improvement schemes.
Operators of both taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed. Operator licences control the standard of service of a company.

• Christchurch private hire / Hackney Carriage licensing

  Information on Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licensing for Christchurch.

• East Dorset private hire / Hackney Carriage licensing fees

  Current private hire/ Hackney Carriage licensing fees for East Dorset.

• North Dorset Private Hire and Hackney Carriage Licensing

  Information for applicants and customers in North Dorset.

• Purbeck private hire / Hackney Carriage licensing

  Any car or small minibus that is used to carry passengers for hire or reward is required by law to be licensed by the council.

• West Dorset Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licensing

  Information on Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licensing for West Dorset.

• Weymouth and Portland private hire / Hackney Carriage licensing

  Information on Private Hire and Hackney Carriage licensing for Weymouth and Portland Borough Council.