Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Hull?
1,400 vehicles in 2026 against 1,148 in 2024: taxis 170 → 169, private hire 978 → 1,231; 5.08 per 1,000 residents; 30% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 170 | 169 | down 1% |
| Private hire vehicles | 978 | 1,231 | up 26% |
| Driver licences | 1,396 | 1,597 | up 14% |
| Operator licences | 127 | 142 | up 12% |
How does Hull compare with other councils in Yorkshire and the Humber?
Among councils in Yorkshire and the Humber, Hull ranks 5th of 15 for vehicles per head (5.08 per 1,000, median 3.7). It ranks 4th for operators (142, median 86).[1]
| Measure | Hull | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 5.08 | 3.7 | 5th of 15 |
| Operator licences | 142 | 86 | 4th of 15 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 9 | 10 | 9th of 15 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 30% | 25% | 6th of 15 |
What does the Hull market look like for an operator?
Hull's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 12% taxis, 88% private hire of 1,400 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 9 PHVs per operator on average (1,231 across 142 licences).
- 1.1 drivers per vehicle (1,597 for 1,400).
- 0% dual-licensed drivers, 1,388 PHV-only, 134 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 Hull differ from other councils?
6 departures from the usual rules in Hull's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face an age limit.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Hull limits hackney carriage licences (169 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Two tests for Hull taxi drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- Two tests for Hull private hire drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- No convictions policy required of Hull operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Hull 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 Hull's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Hull grant?
47 new, 96 renewed; 142 in force (127 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How many private hire operators are there in Hull?
142 at 1 April 2026, 127 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] Hull City Council: official website (taxi and private hire licensing) (read 8 Nov 2026)
