Key facts
- Licensing authority
- Transport for London (TfL)
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 13,713 taxis (13,713 wheelchair accessible), 93,316 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 120,877 drivers, 1,843 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 11.77 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Taxi or private hire driver licence: application + grant (from 1 June 2026)
- £138 + £205[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in London?
The biggest change since April 2024 is in taxis: 14,800 then, 13,713 now. With 11.77 licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents, London sits above the England figure of 5.84. 100% of its taxis are wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 14,800 | 13,713 | down 7% |
| Private hire vehicles | 92,578 | 93,316 | up 1% |
| Driver licences | 123,636 | 120,877 | down 2% |
| Operator licences | 1,740 | 1,843 | up 6% |
How does licensing in London differ from other councils?
London differs from most councils on 3 points in its 2026 return to the DfT. On vehicles, taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard.[1]
- Two tests for London taxi drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- Fewer booking details required: London asks operators to record 11 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out time booking is made.
- Policy last updated: 2026, by London's own account to the DfT.
What did London report about operator licences?
224 new London operator applications, 142 renewals, 35 revoked, with 1,843 operator licences in force on 1 April 2026, in Transport for London (TfL)'s 2026 return to the DfT. See what London operators must record.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in London?
From Transport for London (TfL)'s fee page, read 02/11/2026.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Taxi or private hire driver licence: application + grant (from 1 June 2026) | £138 + £205 |
| Taxi vehicle licence: application + grant (from 1 June 2026) | £70 + £50 |
| Private hire vehicle licence: application + grant | £84 + £56 |
| Knowledge of London: written assessment / appearance fee (from 9 March 2026) | £225 / £425 |
| Private hire driver topographical skills, English and SERU assessments (first attempt) | £40 each |
TfL Notice 05/26. Operator licence fees are set separately by fleet size.[3]
Is a PCO licence the same as a TfL licence?
Yes. People still call London's private hire licences PCO licences, after the Public Carriage Office that used to issue them. Today Transport for London licenses every taxi and private hire driver, vehicle and operator in London, and has licensed private hire drivers since 2003 and vehicles since 2004.[1]
What is the Knowledge of London?
It is the test every London taxi (black cab) driver must pass: a written assessment followed by appearances, which are oral examinations on routes and places across London. From 9 March 2026 the written assessment costs £225 and the appearance fee is £425.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a London driver licence?
Taxi or private hire driver licence: application + grant (from 1 June 2026): £138 + £205, according to Transport for London (TfL)'s fee page when we read it.
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] Department for Transport: Taxi and private hire vehicle statistics, England: 2026, data tables TAXI0104, TAXI0105 and TAXI0108-TAXI0112 (figures at 1 April 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [2] GOV.UK: Driver licences for taxis and private hire vehicles (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [3] Transport for London: Notice 05/26, Taxi and private hire licence fees (13 March 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
Related
- Taxi licence costs across UK councils
- Private hire operator licence explained
- Taxi knowledge test: what councils test
- What a PCO licence is
- Hackney carriage vs private hire: what is the difference?
- How long does it take to get a taxi licence?
- Taxi and private hire licensing in Wolverhampton
- Taxi and private hire licensing in Birmingham