Key facts
How is taxi licensing different in Scotland?
Scotland licenses under its own Act, not the English ones. Its Act and statistics speak of taxis and private hire cars, and instead of an English-style operator licence a business taking bookings needs a booking office licence where its council requires one.[1][4]
What does it cost to license in Edinburgh?
From the City of Edinburgh Council's 2026/27 schedule: a new taxi or private hire car licence is £853 for one year; a new driver licence £246 (the taxi version includes one topographical test); a new booking office licence £1,496, renewed for £1,046.[3]
Full detail: taxi and private hire car licensing in Edinburgh.
How big is the Scottish taxi market?
Scottish Transport Statistics count 8,354 licensed taxis, 14,173 private hire cars and 31,670 driver licences in 2025, with 3,876 of the taxis wheelchair accessible: almost half.[2]
Where do I start?
Call your council's licensing team before you buy a car: ask which licences your business needs (taxi, private hire car, booking office), the vehicle specification it accepts and the tests drivers sit. Then register the business, license drivers and cars, and set up bookings.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a booking office licence in Scotland?
If your business takes bookings for taxis or private hire cars and your council requires one, yes; ask your council's licensing team, as Edinburgh charges £1,496 for a new one.
Where do I find a Scottish council's taxi fares?
On its licensing pages: Edinburgh publishes its taxi fare table, most recently in effect from 25 July 2026; see taxi fares per mile in the UK.
Sources
Fees and rules change. Each source is the official page we read, with the date we read it; check it before you apply or pay.
- [1] legislation.gov.uk: Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 (read 3 Nov 2026)
- [2] Transport Scotland: Scottish Transport Statistics 2025, chapter 1, Table 1.4 (read 3 Nov 2026)
- [3] City of Edinburgh Council: Taxi and PHC licence fees and charges 2026/27 (read 3 Nov 2026)
- [4] GOV.UK: Private hire vehicle or minicab licence (Scotland) (read 3 Nov 2026)