In sections 10 to 22 of this Act—

• “taxi” means a hire car which is engaged, by arrangements made in a public place between the person to be conveyed in it (or a person acting on his behalf) and its driver for a journey beginning there and then; and

• “private hire car” means a hire car other than a taxi within the meaning of this subsection.

In subsection (1) above, “hire car” means a motor vehicle with a driver (other than a vehicle being a public service vehicle within the meaning of section 1(1)(a) of the M1Public Passenger Vehicles Act 1981) which is, with a view to profit, available for hire by the public for personal conveyance.

Notwithstanding that a vehicle in respect of which there is a licence for its operation as a taxi is, on any occasion, engaged as a hire car otherwise than in the manner referred to in subsection (1) above, the enactments relating to its operation as a taxi, and to the driving of it as such (including any such enactments in this Act) shall nonetheless apply in relation to it; and that other manner of engagement on that occasion shall not of itself cause the operation or driving of the licensed taxi to be regarded for the purposes of this Act as the operation or driving of a private hire car within the meaning of subsection (1) above.