This page is to update private hire and hackney carriage drivers with the latest information they need to know. Updates are also sent to licensees by email. If you're not receiving these emails, send your up-to-date email address to licensing@salford.gov.uk
We are aware that, on occasions, taxi and private hire licensees may experience unacceptable behaviour from members of the public, including verbal abuse, racial abuse, or damage to vehicles.
In addition to reporting any crimes to the police, we encourage licensees to notify the Licensing Authority of any such incidents. Please report an incident using our online form.
Window stickers displaying the message ‘No excuse for abuse – offenders will be reported to the police’ are available from the Licensing Service. We encourage you to display a sticker in your licensed vehicle to reinforce the message that abuse of licensees will not be tolerated. Stickers are available free of charge from our Vehicle Management Services reception, and licensing staff will also assist with distribution during compliance activity and booked appointments. Please ensure that the sticker is positioned in a way that does not obstruct your view as the driver.
By law, assistance dogs are allowed to travel in taxis and private hire vehicles at no extra charge. Some assistance dogs wear a jacket to identify themselves, but some may not. If in
doubt, you should allow the assistance dog to travel with their owner. If you refuse to take
them or charge an additional fee, you could face prosecution or lose your licence.
Guide dogs
‘We wear white harnesses with yellow fluorescent stripes.’
Guide dogs are for young people and adults who are blind or partially sighted.
Hearing dogs for deaf people
‘We wear burgundy jackets.’
Hearing dogs are for adults and children with hearing impairments.
Dog AID (Assistance in Disability)
‘We wear red jackets.’
Dog AID dogs are for physically disabled adults.
Canine partners
‘We wear purple jackets.’
Canine partners’ assistance dogs are for physically disabled adults.
Dogs for good
‘We wear green jackets.’
Dogs for good assistance dogs are for people with physical disabilities, or children with autism.
Support dogs
‘We wear blue jackets.’
Assistance dogs for physically disabled adults, seizure alert dogs for people with epilepsy, and autism assistance dogs for children with autism.
Medical detection dogs
‘We wear red jackets.’
Medical detection dogs are for adults and children with complex health conditions.
It is important to make sure that the tyres on your licensed vehicle are in a good and legal condition. This is crucial for the safety of you and your passengers.
Tyre tread on cars and light vans must be at least 1.6 mm, across the middle three-quarters and around the entire tyre.
Part worn tyres are second hand tyres and they are required to meet strict safety standards prior to resale to ensure that they are safe for use on the roads.
Previous investigations undertaken by Trading Standards both regionally and nationally into
the compliance of part worn tyres for sale have uncovered high levels of non-compliance. Some
of the issues detected were:
- Significant age-related deterioration
- Deflation damage
- Unrepaired penetration damage, bulge, deep cuts, cord exposed
- Repairs not carried out in accordance with standard
- Tyres not marked as part worn
With part worn tyres, previous road history is ordinarily not known, and the tyres may have sustained damage which cannot be readily seen.
For the safety of you and your passengers, please think twice before sourcing part worn tyres.
If you do intend to source part worn tyres, please familiarise yourself with the legal requirements for part worn tyres.
How can I check how old my tyres are?
You can find out how old your tyres are by checking for a code on the side of the tyre.
- Check the sidewall for the letters DOT.
- Next to this, there’ll be a 4-digit number code.
- The first pair of numbers is the week of manufacture.
- The second pair of numbers is the year of manufacture.
Tyres manufactured after 2000 have a 4-digit code. If you see a 3-digit code, this means they were
made before 2000, and we would advise that you replace them immediately.
As a taxi or private hire driver in Greater Manchester you could spot the signs of someone silently struggling with suicidal thoughts and in just 10 minutes learn how to make a life saving difference.
Take the FREE online suicide awareness course, designed for taxi and private hire drivers by Zero Suicide Alliance.