Guide to taxis and private hire

Licensing requirements changed on 1 July 2024 

Find information and guidance in our notice on the new requirements (PDF 196KB).

London has the world's oldest regulated taxi service, with a great tradition of quality, value and safety. Our taxi drivers must pass the world-famous Knowledge of London, and our taxi and private hire drivers must pass Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks (previously known as a Criminal Records Bureau, or CRB checks), as well as medical fitness checks.

Black taxis & private hire - the difference

Black taxis are purpose-built vehicles which can be any colour, not just black. Private hire vehicles cover a wide range of vehicles, including minicabs, chauffeur and executive cars and limousines.

Black taxis

There are quite a few differences between black taxis and private hire vehicles. Black taxis:

• Are also called hackney carriages, or black cabs, although they can be any colour
• Have a 'for hire' light on their roof. This means they can be hailed on the street or from a taxi rank
• Can be pre-booked
• Accept card and contactless payments without surcharge
• Must carry assistance dogs free of charge and are 100% wheelchair accessible. Taxis have an induction hearing loop, high-visibility grab handles, and minimum vehicle dimensions for safer access; and must carry wheelchair users. Find out more
• Have fares which are regulated and set by us and are calculated by meter (known as the taximeter
• Are purpose-built vehicles specially designed to navigate London's tricky streets
• Drivers must pass enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) background checks and regular medical checks

What to look out for - black taxis

A green or yellow badge

If you want to know if the taxi and driver you're using is licensed by us, these are the things to look out for:

Drivers must have a badge and they must wear it while working. A badge shows that they have passed the Knowledge of London exam. Drivers with a green badge are licensed to pick passengers up anywhere in London and drivers with a yellow badge specialise in local suburban areas

A green or yellow licence

Your driver must display one of these licences in the front and rear windscreens of their taxi. This licence shows the driver's badge number. If it is green, it means that you have an All London taxi driver and if it is yellow, your driver can work in local suburban areas.

The taxi plate

As well as the driver's badge number, your taxi must display this white plate on the back of the vehicle. As well as the vehicle's licence number, it shows the licence expiry date, vehicle registration number, and number of passengers the vehicle is licensed to carry.

Private hire vehicles

• Are a wide range of vehicles including minicabs, chauffeur and executive cars and limousines
• Must be pre-booked through a TfL-licensed private hire operator, who must provide a booking confirmation to a passenger before their journey starts; the booking confirmation must contain, as a minimum:
  • The vehicle registration mark
  • The driver's first name
  • The driver's private hire licence number, as shown on the ID the driver is wearing
  • Where the passenger can receive it, a photo of driver
• Cannot ply for hire or use taxi ranks
• Must give you an accurate fare estimate before your journey starts (unless you've pre-agreed a fixed fare). We don't regulate private hire fares, although they are typically distance based 
• Are no more than 10 years old (to help improve air quality)
• Must carry assistance dogs free of charge, and if they are designated as wheelchair accessible vehicles must carry wheelchair users. Find out more
• Drivers must pass enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) background check and regular medical checks

What to look out for - private hire vehicles

If you want to know if the vehicle and driver you're using is licensed by us, there are a number of things to look out for:

Private hire ID

Private hire drivers must wear their ID, like this, while working. This shows the driver's name, photo and licence number.

Yellow disc

Private hire vehicles must have licence discs displayed on the front and rear windscreens. They will show: the TfL licence number, licence expiry date, vehicle's registration number, and the number of passengers the vehicle is allowed to carry. Vehicles and drivers are licensed separately, so make sure to check both.

Pre-booked sticker 

Sometimes, private hire vehicles will have a pre-booked sticker on display. This is optional and should not be taken as proof that it is a licensed vehicle.

Accessibility

Taxi and private hire drivers are obliged to carry assistance dogs for no extra charge. Our taxis are also wheelchair accessible, and enable the user to travel easily around London - find out more about passengers and accessibility.

If a taxi driver helps you to enter or leave their vehicle, or secure your wheelchair in the passenger compartment, they should not leave the meter running. Drivers who refuse to help with wheelchairs or assistance dogs face prosecution. If this has happened to you, please contact our taxi and Private Hire team.

Black taxis are designed with a range of accessibility features specifically included to help disabled and elderly customers. These include: an induction hearing loop, high visibility grab handles and minimum vehicle dimensions to enable safe access.

If you have trouble using public transport because of have mobility impairments, you may be able to get subsidised taxi and minicab travel in London under the Taxicard scheme.

Your feedback

If you have a complaint, comment, or just want to let us know that your driver provided a great service, please let us know.

If you are making a complaint, please include the driver's licence number or vehicle registration number, if possible. This helps us to identify them.