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UK taxi and private-hire licensing knowledge

Official-source guidance for drivers, vehicle owners and operators across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Scotland’s 32 council guides remain the most detailed part of the library; the rest of the UK is being expanded without hiding gaps or guessing figures.

Read how UK taxi fares work and compare a journey

Choose a licensing system

Four nations, clear routes

Licensing is not administered in the same way everywhere. Choose a country, then follow the correct council or national licensing route.

32 council licensing areas

Scotland

Driver, vehicle, booking-office and taxi-tariff information is organised by each Scottish council, with official sources and visible verification dates.

Browse Scottish vehicle and booking-office evidence

Core legislation

Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982

The principal Scottish legislation underpinning taxi and private-hire licensing. This TECSI copy is the official revised PDF downloaded from legislation.gov.uk on 21 August 2026.

Current revised PDF · 195 pages · Official source: legislation.gov.uk

Open the current ActView Part II live

Official source library

Scottish taxi fare tariffs and licensing library

Select any of the 32 licensing councils. Verified taxi-meter tariffs publish here with their official source, effective date and verification date.

Immediate-publication and accuracy rule

Every newly verified tariff is published immediately. TECSI never guesses missing fare figures: an awaiting-confirmation notice remains visible until an official source, effective date, verification date and complete tariff bands are recorded.

01

Licensing and compliance

Council licensing, badge renewals, vehicle checks, document dates and the responsibilities that keep a driver legal.

Articles and local guidance being added

02

Renting a taxi or private-hire vehicle

What to check before handover, insurance eligibility, excess arrangements, radio fees, deposits, notice periods and written rental terms.

Articles and local guidance being added

03

Vehicle running costs

Fuel and charging, maintenance, tyres, insurance, finance, downtime and working out the real weekly cost of a vehicle.

Articles and local guidance being added

04

Driver checks and documents

Driving licence checks, taxi or private-hire badge details, insurer requirements and keeping time-sensitive documents current.

Articles and local guidance being added

05

Working safely

Personal safety, passenger incidents, collision procedures, breakdowns and recording important information correctly.

Articles and local guidance being added

06

Glasgow local knowledge

Licensing areas, ranks, airports, major venues, local operating considerations and practical information for working around Glasgow.

Articles and local guidance being added

What should TECSI cover next?

If there is a licensing question, rental issue or practical subject that drivers repeatedly struggle to find a straight answer for, tell us through the forum.

Suggest a topic in the forum