Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Manchester?
The biggest change since April 2024 is in private hire vehicles: 2,918 then, 3,072 now. With 7.02 licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents, Manchester sits above the England figure of 5.84. 100% of its taxis are wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 1,078 | 1,068 | down 1% |
| Private hire vehicles | 2,918 | 3,072 | up 5% |
| Driver licences | 5,740 | 5,795 | up 1% |
| Operator licences | 60 | 78 | up 30% |
How does licensing in Manchester differ from other councils?
Manchester differs from most councils on 4 points in its 2026 return to the DfT. On vehicles, taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard, and drivers must carry out daily roadworthiness checks.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Manchester limits hackney carriage licences (1,068 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Two tests for Manchester taxi drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- No knowledge test for Manchester private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- No good-character certificate from Manchester applicants who lived abroad; about 84% of councils require one.
What did Manchester report about operator licences?
15 new Manchester operator applications, 4 renewals, with 78 operator licences in force on 1 April 2026, in Manchester City Council's 2026 return to the DfT. See what Manchester operators must record.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Manchester?
From Manchester City Council's fee page, read 02/11/2026.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Driver licence, new / renewal (3 years) | £255 / £254 |
| Skills assessment / knowledge test | £42 / £74 |
| ID and right-to-work appointment | £38 |
| Private hire vehicle, new / renewal (plus inspection) | £148 / £144 |
| Vehicle inspection: under 3 years / 3-8 years / 8 years and older | £60 / £120 / £180 |
| Hackney carriage vehicle renewal (plus inspection) | £302 |
| Private hire operator, new or renewal (5 years) | £2,790 |
Manchester City Council 'All taxi licensing fees' page, read 2 November 2026. The enhanced DBS check is paid separately.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Manchester driver licence?
Driver licence, new / renewal (3 years): £255 / £254, according to Manchester City Council'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] Manchester City Council: All taxi licensing fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
Related
- Taxi licence costs across UK councils
- Private hire operator licence explained
- Taxi knowledge test: what councils test
- Taxi software for Manchester fleets
- 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 London