Key facts
- Licensing authority
- Cheltenham Borough Council
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 186 taxis (60 wheelchair accessible), 135 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 327 drivers, 34 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 2.64 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Driver licence, private hire or hackney carriage, 3 years (initial or renewal)
- £293.00[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Cheltenham?
321 vehicles in 2026 against 320 in 2024: taxis 213 → 186, private hire 107 → 135; 2.64 per 1,000 residents; 32% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 213 | 186 | down 13% |
| Private hire vehicles | 107 | 135 | up 26% |
| Driver licences | 309 | 327 | up 6% |
| Operator licences | 35 | 34 | down 3% |
How does Cheltenham compare with other councils in the South West?
Among councils in the South West, Cheltenham ranks 11th of 26 for vehicles per head (2.64 per 1,000, median 2.3). It ranks 19th for operators (34, median 58).[1]
| Measure | Cheltenham | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 2.64 | 2.3 | 11th of 26 |
| Operator licences | 34 | 58 | 19th of 26 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 4 | 4 | 14th of 26 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 32% | 7% | 7th of 25 |
What does the Cheltenham market look like for an operator?
Cheltenham's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 58% taxis, 42% private hire of 321 vehicles: rank and street hails matter.
- 4 PHVs per operator on average (135 across 34 licences).
- 1 drivers per vehicle (327 for 321).
- 78% dual-licensed drivers, 73 PHV-only.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 9 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Cheltenham differ from other councils?
4 departures from the usual rules in Cheltenham's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard.[1]
- No knowledge test for Cheltenham private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- No convictions policy required of Cheltenham operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Cheltenham asks operators to record 9 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out time of pick-up and date of pick-up and date booking is made.
- Policy last updated: 2025, by Cheltenham's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Cheltenham grant?
7 new, 2 renewed; 34 in force (35 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Cheltenham?
From Cheltenham 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 |
|---|---|
| Driver licence, private hire or hackney carriage, 3 years (initial or renewal) | £293.00 |
| Vehicle licence, initial or renewal (electronic) | £265.00 |
| Vehicle transfer or change | £120.00 |
| Operator licence: micro (1-3 cars) / small (4-10) | £1,651.00 / £1,988.00 |
| Operator licence: medium (11-30 cars) / large (31+) | £5,325.00 / £7,429.00 |
| Local knowledge test or resit / safeguarding training | £46.00 / £47.00 |
| Enhanced DBS check | £77.50 |
Cheltenham Borough Council: Licensing fees and charges, read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Cheltenham driver licence?
Driver licence, private hire or hackney carriage, 3 years (initial or renewal): £293.00, according to Cheltenham Borough Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Cheltenham?
34 at 1 April 2026, 35 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] Cheltenham Borough Council: Licensing fees and charges (read 8 Nov 2026)
