Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Maidstone?
328 vehicles in 2026 against 174 in 2024: taxis 31 → 48, private hire 143 → 280; 1.75 per 1,000 residents; 100% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 31 | 48 | up 55% |
| Private hire vehicles | 143 | 280 | up 96% |
| Driver licences | 334 | 490 | up 47% |
| Operator licences | 29 | 53 | up 83% |
How does Maidstone compare with other councils in the South East?
Among councils in the South East, Maidstone ranks 41st of 64 for vehicles per head (1.75 per 1,000, median 2.23). It ranks 31st for operators (53, median 51).[1]
| Measure | Maidstone | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 1.75 | 2.23 | 41st of 64 |
| Operator licences | 53 | 51 | 31st of 64 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 5 | 4 | 25th of 64 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 100% | 14% | 7th of 64 |
What does the Maidstone market look like for an operator?
Maidstone's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 15% taxis, 85% private hire of 328 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 5 PHVs per operator on average (280 across 53 licences).
- 1.5 drivers per vehicle (490 for 328): shared or double-shifted cars.
- 18% dual-licensed drivers, 399 PHV-only, 3 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 Maidstone differ from other councils?
7 departures from the usual rules in Maidstone's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face an age limit.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Maidstone limits hackney carriage licences (48 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- No knowledge test for Maidstone private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- No English test for Maidstone drivers, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- No good-character certificate from Maidstone applicants who lived abroad; about 84% of councils require one.
- No convictions policy required of Maidstone operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Maidstone asks operators to record 10 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out driver licence number and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2025, by Maidstone's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Maidstone grant?
15 new, 8 renewed; 53 in force (29 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How many private hire operators are there in Maidstone?
53 at 1 April 2026, 29 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] Maidstone Borough Council: official website (taxi and private hire licensing) (read 8 Nov 2026)
