Key facts
- Licensing authority
- Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 54 taxis (54 wheelchair accessible), 1,499 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 1,729 drivers, 85 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 5.01 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Hackney driver licence, first application: 1 year / 3 years
- £237 / £669[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Bolton?
1,553 vehicles in 2026 against 1,599 in 2024: taxis 68 → 54, private hire 1,531 → 1,499; 5.01 per 1,000 residents; 100% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 68 | 54 | down 21% |
| Private hire vehicles | 1,531 | 1,499 | down 2% |
| Driver licences | 1,808 | 1,729 | down 4% |
| Operator licences | 83 | 85 | up 2% |
How does Bolton compare with other councils in the North West?
Among councils in the North West, Bolton ranks 10th of 35 for vehicles per head (5.01 per 1,000, median 3.73). It ranks 9th for operators (85, median 45).[1]
| Measure | Bolton | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 5.01 | 3.73 | 10th of 35 |
| Operator licences | 85 | 45 | 9th of 35 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 18 | 9 | 10th of 35 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 100% | 32% | 6th of 35 |
What does the Bolton market look like for an operator?
Bolton's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 3% taxis, 97% private hire of 1,553 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 18 PHVs per operator on average (1,499 across 85 licences).
- 1.1 drivers per vehicle (1,729 for 1,553).
- 5% dual-licensed drivers, 1,649 PHV-only.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 12 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Bolton differ from other councils?
5 departures from the usual rules in Bolton's DfT return. Vehicles: drivers must carry out daily roadworthiness checks.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Bolton limits hackney carriage licences (54 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Bolton taxi drivers sit no knowledge test; about 85% of councils test them.
- No knowledge test for Bolton private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- No age or emission limit for Bolton taxis, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- No age or emission limit for Bolton private hire vehicles, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
How many operator licences does Bolton grant?
12 new, 38 renewed; 85 in force (83 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Bolton?
From Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council's own fee page, read 08/11/2026. Fees are reviewed each year, usually from April, so check the page before you apply.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hackney driver licence, first application: 1 year / 3 years | £237 / £669 |
| Hackney driver licence renewal: 1 year / 3 years | £96 / £249 |
| Private hire driver licence, first application: 1 year / 3 years | £237 / £669 |
| Private hire driver licence renewal: 1 year / 3 years | £135 / £356 |
| Hackney vehicle licence: first grant / renewal | £230 / £226 |
| Private hire vehicle licence: first grant / renewal | £175 / £173 |
Bolton Council: Taxi licensing fees, read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Bolton driver licence?
Hackney driver licence, first application: 1 year / 3 years: £237 / £669, according to Bolton Metropolitan Borough Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Bolton?
85 at 1 April 2026, 83 at 1 April 2024 (DfT).
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] DfT taxi and private hire vehicle statistics 2026, tables TAXI0104-TAXI0112 (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] GOV.UK: Driver licences for taxis and private hire vehicles (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] Bolton Council: Taxi licensing fees (read 8 Nov 2026)
