Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Leicester?
1,566 vehicles in 2026 against 1,538 in 2024: taxis 185 → 166, private hire 1,353 → 1,400; 4.03 per 1,000 residents; 100% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 185 | 166 | down 10% |
| Private hire vehicles | 1,353 | 1,400 | up 3% |
| Driver licences | 1,873 | 1,840 | down 2% |
| Operator licences | 126 | 139 | up 10% |
How does Leicester compare with other councils in the East Midlands?
Among councils in the East Midlands, Leicester ranks 10th of 35 for vehicles per head (4.03 per 1,000, median 1.94). It ranks 3rd for operators (139, median 27).[1]
| Measure | Leicester | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 4.03 | 1.94 | 10th of 35 |
| Operator licences | 139 | 27 | 3rd of 34 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 10 | 4 | 5th of 34 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 100% | 10% | 2nd of 33 |
What does the Leicester market look like for an operator?
Leicester's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 11% taxis, 89% private hire of 1,566 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 10 PHVs per operator on average (1,400 across 139 licences).
- 1.2 drivers per vehicle (1,840 for 1,566).
- 100% dual-licensed drivers.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 9 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Leicester differ from other councils?
6 departures from the usual rules in Leicester's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Leicester limits hackney carriage licences (166 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- No good-character certificate from Leicester applicants who lived abroad; about 84% of councils require one.
- No disability awareness course for Leicester private hire drivers; about 71% of councils require one.
- Leicester operators' call-takers and dispatchers need no DBS check; about 2 in 3 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Leicester asks operators to record 9 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out vehicle registration number and name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2022, by Leicester's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Leicester grant?
50 new, 77 renewed, 4 refused; 139 in force (126 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Leicester?
From Leicester City 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 |
|---|---|
| Knowledge test | £24 |
| New taxi driver licence: 1 year / 2 years | £121 / £163 |
| Driver licence renewal: 1 / 2 / 3 years | £98 / £140 / £183 |
| Hackney carriage vehicle licence, new or renewal | £224 |
| Private hire vehicle licence, new or renewal | £224 |
| New operator licence, 1 vehicle: 1 year / 5 years | £480 / £2,069 |
| New operator licence, 2 to 20 vehicles: 1 year / 5 years | £572 / £2,526 |
| New operator licence, 21 or more vehicles: 1 year / 5 years | £676 / £3,044 |
Leicester City Council: Taxi licensing in Leicester (fees), read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Leicester driver licence?
New taxi driver licence: 1 year / 2 years: £121 / £163, according to Leicester City Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Leicester?
139 at 1 April 2026, 126 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] Leicester City Council: Taxi licensing in Leicester (fees) (read 8 Nov 2026)
