Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Chorley?
116 vehicles in 2026 against 156 in 2024: taxis 36 → 36, private hire 120 → 80; 0.96 per 1,000 residents; 31% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 36 | 36 | about the same as in 2024 |
| Private hire vehicles | 120 | 80 | down 33% |
| Driver licences | 184 | 171 | down 7% |
| Operator licences | 15 | 16 | up 7% |
How does Chorley compare with other councils in the North West?
Among councils in the North West, Chorley ranks 35th of 35 for vehicles per head (0.96 per 1,000, median 3.73). It ranks 33rd for operators (16, median 45).[1]
| Measure | Chorley | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 0.96 | 3.73 | 35th of 35 |
| Operator licences | 16 | 45 | 33rd of 35 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 5 | 9 | 29th of 35 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 31% | 32% | 19th of 35 |
What does the Chorley market look like for an operator?
Chorley's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 31% taxis, 69% private hire of 116 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 5 PHVs per operator on average (80 across 16 licences).
- 1.5 drivers per vehicle (171 for 116): shared or double-shifted cars.
- 0% dual-licensed drivers, 50 PHV-only, 1 taxi-only.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 10 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Chorley differ from other councils?
10 departures from the usual rules in Chorley's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face an emission standard.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Chorley limits hackney carriage licences (36 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Two tests for Chorley taxi drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- Two tests for Chorley private hire drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- DBS Update Service optional for Chorley drivers; about 86% of councils make it compulsory.
- No good-character certificate from Chorley applicants who lived abroad; about 84% of councils require one.
- No disability awareness course for Chorley private hire drivers; about 71% of councils require one.
- Chorley operators' call-takers and dispatchers need no DBS check; about 2 in 3 councils require one.
- No convictions policy required of Chorley operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Chorley asks operators to record 10 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: before 2022, by Chorley's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Chorley grant?
12 new, 4 renewed; 16 in force (15 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Chorley?
From Chorley 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 |
|---|---|
| New grant: dual hackney carriage and private hire driver licence | £246.33 |
| New grant: hackney carriage / private hire driver licence | £214.21 / £222.74 |
| Renewal: dual driver licence | £214.18 |
| Renewal: hackney carriage / private hire driver licence | £182.06 / £191.08 |
Chorley Council: Taxi driver licence fees, read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Chorley driver licence?
New grant: dual hackney carriage and private hire driver licence: £246.33, according to Chorley Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Chorley?
16 at 1 April 2026, 15 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] Chorley Council: Taxi driver licence fees (read 8 Nov 2026)
