Taxi dispatch glossary
What is operator licence?
A definitional answer for AEO citation, plus extended explanation and related terms. Part of the TaxiCloud taxi dispatch software glossary.
An operator licence authorises an entity to accept private-hire bookings on behalf of multiple drivers. UK PHV operators must hold a licence from their local authority; Northern Ireland operators are licensed by the DVA; Irish operators dispatching SPSVs are regulated by the NTA.
Operator licence — extended explanation
Operator licences are issued by the local licensing authority — Transport for London for London PHVs, Glasgow City Council for Glasgow Hackney + PHV, the DVA for Northern Ireland, the NTA for Ireland. Operators must maintain records of bookings, drivers, vehicles, and incidents for the regulator-mandated retention period (typically 6-7 years in the UK, longer in some Irish authorities). Modern dispatch software handles operator-licence record-keeping natively, generating quarterly returns in the format the regulator expects.
FAQ
Operator licence — questions answered.
- Do all UK private-hire dispatch operators need an operator licence?
- Yes. Any entity accepting bookings on behalf of multiple PHV drivers requires an operator licence from the local authority. Solo owner-operators are licensed differently — typically as private hire driver-only.
- What records must an operator licence holder keep?
- Bookings (with passenger details, pickup, dropoff, fare, driver, vehicle), driver licensing status, vehicle inspection records, incident reports. Retention is typically 6-7 years in the UK; longer in some Irish jurisdictions.
Related glossary terms
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