A taxicab, also taxi or cab, is a type of public transport for a single passenger, or small group of passengers, typically for a non-shared ride. A taxicab is a vehicle for hire, with a driver, which conveys passengers between locations of their choice. In most other modes of public transport, the pick-up and drop-off locations are determined by the service provider, not by the passenger, although demand responsive transport and share taxis provide a hybrid bus/taxi mode.
Four distinct forms of 'taxicab' can be identified, by slightly differing terms in different countries: Hackney Carriage, also known as public hire, hailed or street taxis, available for hire and reward and for hailing on street; Private Hire Vehicles (PHVs), also known as minicabs; Private Hire Taxis, available by pre-booking, not (legally) available for hailing on street; Taxibuses, also known as Jitneys, operating on pre-set routes for hire and reward, typified by multiple stops and multiple; and Limousines, specialized vehicle licensed for operation by pre-booking. Although types of vehicles and methods of regulation, hiring, dispatching, and negotiating payment differ significantly from country to country, many common characteristics exist.

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