Last updated: January 2026
1. Status of the Parties
1.1 Bella Private Hire (“Bella”) operates solely as a booking and payment collection agent.
1.2 Drivers are self-employed independent contractors providing private hire transport services directly to passengers.
1.3 Nothing in these terms creates an employment, worker, partnership, or joint-venture relationship.

2. Licensing & Compliance 
2.1 Drivers must at all times hold:
a valid private hire driver licence;
a licensed private hire vehicle;
valid hire-and-reward insurance.
2.2 Drivers are solely responsible for compliance with all conditions imposed by their licensing authority and all applicable road traffic and regulatory requirements.

3. Use of the Platform
3.1 Bella provides a digital platform enabling drivers to receive booking requests from passengers.
3.2 Drivers may accept or reject booking requests at their discretion without penalty.

4. Fares
4.1 Passenger fares are displayed transparently via the Bella platform.
4.2 The full passenger fare belongs to the driver, subject only to the fixed booking fee set out below.

5. Booking Fee (No Commission Model)
5.1 For each completed trip, the driver agrees to pay Bella a fixed booking fee of £2.00 per trip.
5.2 This fee:
is not a percentage commission;
does not vary by distance, duration, or fare value.
5.3 No other commission, subscription, or hidden charges apply unless expressly agreed in writing.

6. Payments & VAT
6.1 Bella collects fares from passengers on behalf of drivers as payment collection agent.
6.2 The £2 booking fee is deducted prior to settlement of the balance to the driver.
6.3 If Bella is VAT-registered, VAT (if applicable) is chargeable only on the £2 booking fee.
6.4 Drivers remain responsible for their own VAT obligations if registered.

7. Cancellations & No-Shows
7.1 Cancellation and no-show rules are communicated via the platform at the time of booking.
7.2 Where a cancellation charge applies, the booking fee may still be deducted.

8. Conduct, Safety & Complaints Professional Conduct & Safety
8.1 Drivers must act professionally, safely, and lawfully at all times while using the Bella platform.
8.2 Drivers must comply with:
all conditions attached to their private hire driver licence;
all conditions attached to their private hire vehicle licence;
all requirements imposed by their licensing authority;
all relevant UK laws and regulations, including road traffic, equality, safeguarding, and data protection legislation.
Use of In-Vehicle CCTV
8.3 Where a driver uses in-vehicle CCTV (including audio or video recording), the driver:
must comply with all licensing conditions relating to CCTV imposed by the relevant local authority;
must comply with UK data protection law, including the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018;
is solely responsible for lawful installation, operation, signage, data storage, access control, and deletion of CCTV recordings.
8.4 Drivers must ensure that any CCTV use is:
clearly disclosed to passengers through required signage;
used only for legitimate purposes such as safety, security, or dispute resolution;
proportionate and not excessive.
8.5 Bella does not operate, control, or routinely access driver CCTV systems unless legally required and expressly authorised.
Complaints & Regulatory Reporting
8.6 Drivers must cooperate with any reasonable investigation relating to complaints, safety concerns, or regulatory enquiries.
8.7 Bella may refer complaints, safety issues, or suspected breaches of licensing conditions to the relevant licensing authority or law enforcement where required by law.
Responsibility & Liability
8.8 Drivers remain solely responsible for:
compliance with licensing conditions;
lawful operation of any CCTV systems;
compliance with UK law during the provision of transport services.
8.9 Bella shall not be liable for any fines, penalties, enforcement action, or claims arising from a driver’s failure to comply with licensing or legal requirements.

9. Prohibited Activity
9.1 Account sharing, substitution, or “ghost driving” is strictly prohibited.
9.2 Breach may result in immediate suspension or termination of access to the platform.

10. Regulatory & Legal Risk Buffer
10.1 The parties expressly agree that Bella acts as a booking and payment collection agent only, and that drivers operate as independent self-employed contractors.
10.2 The parties acknowledge that courts, tribunals, licensing authorities, or tax authorities may interpret legal relationships differently, regardless of intention.
10.3 If any provision of these terms is reinterpreted, reclassified, or deemed unenforceable:
such determination shall apply only to the minimum extent required; and
shall not invalidate the remainder of these terms.
10.4 Where lawful, any such interpretation shall preserve the original commercial intent, including:
driver independence;
the fixed £2 booking-fee model; and
Bella’s intermediary role.
10.5 No such determination shall, of itself:
create employment or worker status;
convert Bella into the transport provider; or
impose retrospective obligations beyond those strictly required by law.
10.6 Bella may make reasonable amendments to these terms to maintain legal or regulatory compliance, with reasonable notice to drivers.

11. Termination
11.1 Drivers may cease using the platform at any time.
11.2 Bella may suspend or terminate access for serious or repeated breaches of these terms.

12. Governing Law
12.1 These terms are governed by the law of Scotland.