Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Kirklees?
2,876 vehicles in 2026 against 2,860 in 2024: taxis 205 → 212, private hire 2,655 → 2,664; 6.42 per 1,000 residents; 18% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 205 | 212 | up 3% |
| Private hire vehicles | 2,655 | 2,664 | about the same as in 2024 |
| Driver licences | 3,248 | 3,831 | up 18% |
| Operator licences | 212 | 228 | up 8% |
How does Kirklees compare with other councils in Yorkshire and the Humber?
Among councils in Yorkshire and the Humber, Kirklees ranks 2nd of 15 for vehicles per head (6.42 per 1,000, median 3.7). It ranks 1st for operators (228, median 86).[1]
| Measure | Kirklees | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 6.42 | 3.7 | 2nd of 15 |
| Operator licences | 228 | 86 | 1st of 15 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 12 | 10 | 7th of 15 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 18% | 25% | 10th of 15 |
What does the Kirklees market look like for an operator?
Kirklees's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 7% taxis, 93% private hire of 2,876 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 12 PHVs per operator on average (2,664 across 228 licences).
- 1.3 drivers per vehicle (3,831 for 2,876): shared or double-shifted cars.
- 100% dual-licensed drivers.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 11 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Kirklees differ from other councils?
6 departures from the usual rules in Kirklees's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Kirklees limits hackney carriage licences (212 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Kirklees taxi drivers sit no knowledge test; about 85% of councils test them.
- No knowledge test for Kirklees private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- No good-character certificate from Kirklees applicants who lived abroad; about 84% of councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Kirklees asks operators to record 11 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out name of booker.
- Policy last updated: 2022, by Kirklees's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Kirklees grant?
77 new, 95 renewed; 228 in force (212 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How many private hire operators are there in Kirklees?
228 at 1 April 2026, 212 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] Kirklees Council: official website (taxi and private hire licensing) (read 8 Nov 2026)
