Can Anyone Give Us A Clue As To Why.....

[10ClarionSt]

....there are lots of taxi's around the Manchester area that have council licence plates from miles away? I've seen lots of taxis with plates from Sefton, Knowsley, Wolverhapmton (lots and lots of them) and Solihull. The odd thing is, I've never seen any occupants in them. I'm sure there's a rational explanation, but can't think of it at the moment. Anyone in the taxi trade have any ideas? Thanks in advance.

[douglas9401]

Some do courier work for folk needing documents take to and from lawyers etc.

Mostly moving drugs about though I suspect. Hiding in plain sight.

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps they have dropped off at the airport, and hang around to get a spot of lunch.

[10ClarionSt]

Thanks. You could both be correct. Thing is, I see a lot of them late in the evening, so I'm not convinced about the courier aspect. It may remain a mystery!

[calmck]

Escort trade

[ichkeria]

Do number plates in this country really tell you much about where a car has actually been?

I see N Ireland regs everywhere: eg an old Derry city one the other day which I’m willing to bet had been never been near the place

[bhg481]

I think the query is about the Taxi Licence plate not the registration Plate.

[237SJ]

I called a cab one wet Monday night last summer (SW London) and I asked the driver where he lived. He said Littlehampton. There's more work in SW London on a wet summer Monday than there is in Littlehampton so they drive in from miles away for the day then go back to wherever they came from.

[barry1010]

It's often much cheaper to fly from Manchester and pay the taxi fares than it is to fly from Birmingham so I think Hopkirk is right about the airport runs.

[barry1010]

ichkeria, the taxi licence plate names the council that issued it quite prominently

[rowanwitch]

Because there own authority has licensed so many there isn't enough work to go round. Birmingham has loads of Wolverhampton ones too

[Peter Pedant]

we have had this before and touches on - - -
the theory of licensing

is it to ( licensing that is!) regulate a market - that is just have the first lucky 5000 licensed
or
is it -2. anyone gets one who fulfils the criteria ( brakes that work, insurance etc)

and when the cabbies of Mank complained that 'their' work was being taken away from them
the answer was - no 2 - anyone who fulfilled the criteria got one

[barry1010]

It's a good job we now have satnav. I use private hire cars regularly and can't remember the last time I had one that was licensed locally. The drivers certainly don't know the area.

[barry1010]

This is interesting:
"A private hire vehicle may only be used where jobs have been pre-booked through a private hire operator licensed with the same authority. "

And Uber says:
"Getting a private hire licence

If you offer rides for payment you must have a private hire licence. Uber will check that you have this. Private hire licences are issued by the council in the area you will work, or by Transport for London if you work in London"

So how come so many Uber cars I get in to are licensed by different councils? Is that legal?