Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in East Hertfordshire?
232 vehicles in 2026 against 252 in 2024: taxis 193 → 170, private hire 59 → 62; 1.48 per 1,000 residents; 1% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 193 | 170 | down 12% |
| Private hire vehicles | 59 | 62 | up 5% |
| Driver licences | 277 | 254 | down 8% |
| Operator licences | 35 | 53 | up 51% |
How does East Hertfordshire compare with other councils in the East of England?
Among councils in the East of England, East Hertfordshire ranks 36th of 45 for vehicles per head (1.48 per 1,000, median 2.48). It ranks 15th for operators (53, median 40).[1]
| Measure | East Hertfordshire | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 1.48 | 2.48 | 36th of 45 |
| Operator licences | 53 | 40 | 15th of 45 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 1 | 5 | 45th of 45 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 1% | 21% | 42nd of 44 |
What does the East Hertfordshire market look like for an operator?
East Hertfordshire's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 73% taxis, 27% private hire of 232 vehicles: rank and street hails matter.
- 1 PHV per operator on average (62 across 53 licences).
- 1.1 drivers per vehicle (254 for 232).
- 79% dual-licensed drivers, 53 PHV-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 East Hertfordshire differ from other councils?
5 departures from the usual rules in East Hertfordshire'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: East Hertfordshire limits hackney carriage licences (170 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Two tests for East Hertfordshire taxi drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- Two tests for East Hertfordshire private hire drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- Fewer booking details required: East Hertfordshire asks operators to record 10 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2025, by East Hertfordshire's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does East Hertfordshire grant?
10 new, 3 renewed; 53 in force (35 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How many private hire operators are there in East Hertfordshire?
53 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] East Hertfordshire District Council: official website (taxi and private hire licensing) (read 8 Nov 2026)
