The first hackney licenses date back to 1662, and implemented to carts pulled by horses, later upgraded as hansom cabs (1834), which operated as a vehicle for hire. Note the distinction between a generic hackney hackney carriage and a coach, a hireable vehicle with four wheels Specifically, two horses and six seats. Hackney electric cars appeared before the introduction of the internal combustion engine for rental vehicles in 1901. During the 20th century, cars generally replaced horse-drawn models, and the last horse-drawn hackney stopped transportation service in London in 1947. Carts horse-drawn hackney services in some other parts of the country continue to operate, such as Cockington, Torquay.
Today, the regulations define a hackney carriage as a taxi allowed to ply for hire on the streets in search of passengers as opposed to the hiring of private vehicles (sometimes known as minicabs), which can only pick up passengers who have already booked or visitthe office of the taxi operator. . In early 2004, the British government has begun to consult with local councils and the taxi operators on the abolition of the distinction between the two types of taxis, with a view to issuing only hackney licenses.