Key facts
- Licensing authority
- Reigate and Banstead Borough Council
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 88 taxis (25 wheelchair accessible), 1,387 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 2,528 drivers, 182 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 9.27 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Private hire driver licence, one year (restricted licences only)
- £95[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Reigate and Banstead?
1,475 vehicles in 2026 against 1,225 in 2024: taxis 89 → 88, private hire 1,136 → 1,387; 9.27 per 1,000 residents; 28% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 89 | 88 | down 1% |
| Private hire vehicles | 1,136 | 1,387 | up 22% |
| Driver licences | 1,869 | 2,528 | up 35% |
| Operator licences | 125 | 182 | up 46% |
How does Reigate and Banstead compare with other councils in the South East?
Among councils in the South East, Reigate and Banstead ranks 2nd of 64 for vehicles per head (9.27 per 1,000, median 2.23). It ranks 3rd for operators (182, median 51).[1]
| Measure | Reigate and Banstead | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 9.27 | 2.23 | 2nd of 64 |
| Operator licences | 182 | 51 | 3rd of 64 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 8 | 4 | 14th of 64 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 28% | 14% | 23rd of 64 |
What does the Reigate and Banstead market look like for an operator?
Reigate and Banstead's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 6% taxis, 94% private hire of 1,475 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 8 PHVs per operator on average (1,387 across 182 licences).
- 1.7 drivers per vehicle (2,528 for 1,475): shared or double-shifted cars.
- 4% dual-licensed drivers, 2,425 PHV-only.
- Majority nearer to a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 9 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Reigate and Banstead differ from other councils?
6 departures from the usual rules in Reigate and Banstead's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis face both an age limit and an emission standard and private hire vehicles an age limit.[1]
- Two tests for Reigate and Banstead taxi drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- Two tests for Reigate and Banstead private hire drivers, local knowledge and navigation, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- Reigate and Banstead operators' call-takers and dispatchers need no DBS check; about 2 in 3 councils require one.
- No convictions policy required of Reigate and Banstead operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: Reigate and Banstead asks operators to record 9 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out passenger name and name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2024, by Reigate and Banstead's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Reigate and Banstead grant?
57 new, 118 renewed, 1 refused; 182 in force (125 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Reigate and Banstead?
From Reigate and Banstead Borough 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, first or re-take: hackney carriage / private hire | £74 / £51 |
| Private hire driver licence, one year (restricted licences only) | £95 |
| Vehicle under three years old, annual licence | £231 |
| Vehicle over three years old, annual licence | £277 |
| Vehicle transfer (proprietor only) / change of registration | £57 / £84 |
| Plate dispensation | £106 |
Reigate and Banstead Borough Council: Taxi and private hire licence fees 2026/27, read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Reigate and Banstead driver licence?
Private hire driver licence, one year (restricted licences only): £95, according to Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Reigate and Banstead?
182 at 1 April 2026, 125 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] Reigate and Banstead Borough Council: Taxi and private hire licence fees 2026/27 (read 8 Nov 2026)
