Transport for LondonProprietors
The majority of the 20,000 taxi vehicles currently licensed are owned and driven by individual licensed drivers. A significant number however are owned and maintained by individuals and companies for the purpose of renting them out to licensed taxi drivers who do not own their own vehicle.
Your responsibilities
As a proprietor you are responsible for the following:
- Maintaining the mechanics and fabric of your taxis to the standard required by the Public Carriage Office (PCO)
- Making the vehicles available for inspection by officers of the PCO
- Retaining the appropriate records of those drivers using your taxis
- Returning expired licence plates to the Public Carriage Office
In determining an individual or company's fitness to become a proprietor the following are taken into account:
- Any criminal record of an applicant including offences under taxi legislation
- Any previous proprietor history
- The fitness of the taxi vehicle in respect of the application made and appropriate insurance cover
- Business repute and general financial standing of the applicant.
Approval
Once your application to become a proprietor has been approved you will be invited to the PCO to be given further advice and information on your responsibilities as a proprietor. If you are not a licensed taxi driver this advice will be given in a one-to-one interview lasting approximately one hour. Drivers who have been licensed for less than six months will be given a 'proprietors talk' as part of a group.
Further information on becoming a proprietor and vehicle licensing.
