Passenger information

You must book private hire vehicles in advance with a private hire operator. You should agree the fare at the time of the booking.

London-style taxi cabs (known as Hackney carriages) can be found at taxi ranks throughout the borough.

Hackney Carriage fares and charges - as of 18 December 2023

Following a fare tariff consultation from 4-17 December 2023 there are new Hackney Carriage fares and charges in place.

You can view or download the new Hackney Carriage fares and charges.

What to expect from your taxi journey

Vehicles should be well presented and customers should have a pleasant experience.

Each taxi has a calibrated meter which you can see in the cab of the vehicle. 

For journeys with a destination within the Walsall area, the meter calculates the cost of the journey. There is a table of fares inside each vehicle. 

For journeys with a destination outside the Walsall boundary, the driver can negotiate the fare with you before the journey starts. The driver must still set the meter.

All Hackney carriages must be wheelchair accessible. There should be no extra charge for carrying wheelchairs.

Find out about safeguarding and accessibility

All drivers licensed by Walsall Council will have received training before we grant them their licence.

We make sure they are fully vetted, which includes getting a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

All vehicles are tested to make sure they are safe and follow current licensing conditions before we issue a licence.

We carry out checks on drivers all year round too.

Unless exempt, all taxi and private hire vehicles must carry assistance dogs if requested.  There should be no extra charge for this.

Tips to keep yourself safe

There are some steps you can take to keep safe when using a taxi:

• Always agree the fare when you book, this will stop any arguments later.
• Cars cruising the streets looking for customers are illegal, uninsured and possibly dangerous.
• Always use a licensed Hackney carriage or private hire vehicle.
• Hackney carriages licensed by Walsall Council have a white licence plate on the rear of the vehicle with the vehicle licence number.
• Only London-style or Euro-style cabs can be licensed as a Hackney carriage in Walsall.
• Hackney carriages can be hailed in the street and have an illuminated taxi sign on the roof.
• Hackney carriages must always set their meter.
• Private hire vehicles licensed by Walsall Council have a yellow plate at the rear of the vehicle and yellow stickers on the side doors showing the vehicle licence number.
• Private hire vehicles cannot be hailed in the street. They must be pre-booked.
• Don’t get into a private hire vehicle unless you know it is the one you have booked.

How to give feedback

If you would like to tell us about your journey, you can contact the Community Protection team.

It will help if you can tell us:

• the driver's name and badge number
• the vehicle plate number and/or vehicle registration number