By Mehmood Ali, Senior DriverPublished Updated 5 min read
Quick answer
To check a taxi is licensed in Farnham, look for the council plate, blue and white on a hackney carriage or red and white on a private hire car, and the driver’s photo badge. Private hire cars can only be booked in advance, so never get into one you didn’t book. Waverley Borough Council licenses both until 1 April 2027.
Key facts
| Licensing authority | Waverley Borough Council, until 1 April 2027 |
|---|---|
| From 1 April 2027 | West Surrey Council replaces Waverley |
| Taxi (hackney carriage) | Blue and white plate, roof sign, meter; can be hailed |
| Private hire car | Red and white plate, no roof sign; pre-booked only |
| Driver ID | Council badge with photo and licence number, clearly visible |
| Complaints and lost property | taxi@waverley.gov.uk |
Key takeaways
- In Farnham, taxis (hackney carriages) have a blue and white plate, a roof sign and a meter. Private hire cars have a red and white plate and no roof sign.
- A private hire car can only take you if you booked it in advance. Never get into one that stops for you in the street.
- Every licensed driver carries a council badge with their photo on it, and you have the right to see it.
- If something goes wrong, write down the badge and plate numbers, then contact the firm or the council.
Taxi or private hire: the difference that matters
Before you can check you’re in a licensed taxi in Farnham, it helps to know there are two kinds of licensed car on the town’s roads, and they work under different rules. Waverley Borough Council licenses both, and its guidance for the public explains how to tell them apart:
- Taxis (hackney carriages) have a blue and white plate, a roof sign and a meter. You can hail one in the street or take one from a rank.
- Private hire cars have a red and white plate and no roof sign. They can only be booked in advance.
Most firms you ring or book online, ourselves included, are private hire operators. So for most people, the pre-booking rule is the one that matters most.
Five checks before you get in
Each of these takes a few seconds, and a good driver won’t mind you doing any of them.
1. You booked it, with a licensed firm
A private hire journey has to be booked in advance through a licensed operator, whether that’s by phone, on a website or in an app. If you didn’t book the car, or can’t remember which firm you rang, don’t get in.
2. The plate is there, and it matches
Look for the red and white plate on the back of the car and the smaller one on the windscreen. The plate carries the licence number, the expiry date and the car’s registration, and that registration should match the number plate on the car.
One honest exception: the council allows a small number of executive or chauffeur cars not to display the plate. Their drivers are still licensed and still carry a badge. If you were expecting a plate and can’t see one, ask the firm you booked with to confirm the car before you get in.
3. The badge has the driver’s photo
Waverley gives every licensed driver a badge, and it has to be clearly visible while they’re working. It shows their photo and licence number. Check that the face on the badge is the face behind the wheel.
4. It’s the car you were told about
When you book, ask for the make, colour and registration of the car that’s coming. Any licensed firm can tell you.
5. Let the driver say your name first
Instead of “Are you here for Sarah?”, try “Who are you here to pick up?” The driver who was sent for you will know your name and where you’re going. Someone looking for a passenger won’t.
Never take an unbooked private hire car. If a private hire car pulls up and offers you a ride, or a driver outside the station or a club offers a lift without a booking, they’re breaking the rules. You also lose the record a booking gives you: who drove you, when, and where to.
Late nights, events and travelling alone
Most problems happen when everyone wants a car at once: closing time, the end of a wedding or a gig, or the last train into Farnham. A little planning takes most of the risk away:
- Book your ride home before you go out. A booked car with an agreed pickup point is far better than hunting for one at midnight. Our station taxis cover late arrivals at Farnham, Aldershot and Guildford.
- Tell someone. Text a friend the car’s registration and the driver’s badge number before you set off.
- Sit in the back, and keep your phone charged and with you.
- Go with your gut. If the car or the driver doesn’t match what you were told, you don’t have to get in. Ring the firm and check.
For weddings and big events, one agreed pickup point and staggered home times stop guests standing around on dark lanes. Our wedding guest transport guide goes into this.
What to do if something goes wrong
Waverley’s guidance is clear: you have the right to see the driver’s details, meaning their photo, badge and number, and to note them down. Those details are exactly what you’ll need if you leave something in the car or want to complain.
- If you’re in danger, call 999.
- For a complaint about a journey, contact the firm you booked with first. Give them the date, the time, where you were picked up and the badge or plate number.
- If that doesn’t sort it, or you think the car or driver wasn’t licensed, email the council’s licensing team at taxi@waverley.gov.uk. That address also deals with property left in licensed cars.
Taxi licensing in Farnham is changing in 2027
Surrey’s councils are being reorganised. The government has decided that two new councils, East Surrey and West Surrey, will take over on 1 April 2027. Waverley is one of the councils that West Surrey Council will replace, and the councillors elected in May 2026 are already working on the handover.
Until that date, Waverley Borough Council is still the licensing authority for Farnham. After it, the licensing contacts above are expected to move to the new council. The checks themselves don’t change: a plate, a badge and a booking.
How we do things at Orbit Taxis
We’re a private hire firm licensed by Waverley Borough Council. Every one of our drivers holds a council licence, is DBS-checked and carries photo ID. Every journey is booked in advance, as the law requires, so there’s always a record of who drove you and when. If you’d like the driver’s name and the car’s details before it arrives, just ask when you ring 01252 280 717. A real person answers, day or night.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell if a taxi in Farnham is licensed?
Look for the council plate: blue and white on a taxi, red and white on a private hire car. Then check the driver’s badge shows their photo and licence number.
Can I flag down a private hire car in Farnham?
No. Private hire cars can only be booked in advance. Only taxis, the ones with a roof sign and a meter, can be hailed or taken from a rank.
Who licenses taxis in Farnham?
Waverley Borough Council, until the new West Surrey Council takes over on 1 April 2027.
How do I report a problem with a taxi or private hire driver?
Contact the firm first. If that doesn’t resolve it, email the council’s licensing team at taxi@waverley.gov.uk with the badge or plate number and the date and time.