Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Crawley?
639 vehicles in 2026 against 700 in 2024: taxis 123 → 123, private hire 577 → 516; 5.15 per 1,000 residents; 41% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 123 | 123 | about the same as in 2024 |
| Private hire vehicles | 577 | 516 | down 11% |
| Driver licences | 944 | 880 | down 7% |
| Operator licences | 44 | 67 | up 52% |
How does Crawley compare with other councils in the South East?
Among councils in the South East, Crawley ranks 11th of 64 for vehicles per head (5.15 per 1,000, median 2.23). It ranks 21st for operators (67, median 51).[1]
| Measure | Crawley | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 5.15 | 2.23 | 11th of 64 |
| Operator licences | 67 | 51 | 21st of 64 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 8 | 4 | 15th of 64 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 41% | 14% | 18th of 64 |
What does the Crawley market look like for an operator?
Crawley's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 19% taxis, 81% private hire of 639 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 8 PHVs per operator on average (516 across 67 licences).
- 1.4 drivers per vehicle (880 for 639): shared or double-shifted cars.
- 0% dual-licensed drivers, 560 PHV-only, 58 taxi-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 Crawley differ from other councils?
5 departures from the usual rules in Crawley's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard, and drivers must carry out daily roadworthiness checks.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Crawley limits hackney carriage licences (123 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- CCTV required in Crawley taxis and private hire vehicles; about 9 in 10 councils only allow it.
- Two tests for Crawley taxi drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- Two tests for Crawley private hire drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- Policy last updated: 2025, by Crawley's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Crawley grant?
21 new, 48 renewed; 67 in force (44 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How many private hire operators are there in Crawley?
67 at 1 April 2026, 44 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] Crawley Borough Council: official website (taxi and private hire licensing) (read 8 Nov 2026)
