Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Sefton?
5,917 vehicles in 2026 against 5,235 in 2024: taxis 239 → 193, private hire 4,996 → 5,724; 20.67 per 1,000 residents; 48% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 239 | 193 | down 19% |
| Private hire vehicles | 4,996 | 5,724 | up 15% |
| Driver licences | 5,916 | 6,984 | up 18% |
| Operator licences | 103 | 110 | up 7% |
How does Sefton compare with other councils in the North West?
Among councils in the North West, Sefton ranks 2nd of 35 for vehicles per head (20.67 per 1,000, median 3.73). It ranks 6th for operators (110, median 45).[1]
| Measure | Sefton | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 20.67 | 3.73 | 2nd of 35 |
| Operator licences | 110 | 45 | 6th of 35 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 52 | 9 | 3rd of 35 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 48% | 32% | 17th of 35 |
What does the Sefton market look like for an operator?
Sefton's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 3% taxis, 97% private hire of 5,917 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 52 PHVs per operator on average (5,724 across 110 licences).
- 1.2 drivers per vehicle (6,984 for 5,917).
- 0% dual-licensed drivers, 6,698 PHV-only, 232 taxi-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 Sefton differ from other councils?
12 departures from the usual rules in Sefton's DfT return. Vehicles: drivers must carry out daily roadworthiness checks.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: Sefton limits hackney carriage licences (193 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Sefton taxi drivers sit no knowledge test; about 85% of councils test them.
- No knowledge test for Sefton private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- No good-character certificate from Sefton applicants who lived abroad; about 84% of councils require one.
- No safeguarding course for Sefton private hire drivers; almost all councils require one.
- No disability awareness course for Sefton private hire drivers; about 71% of councils require one.
- Sefton operators' call-takers and dispatchers need no DBS check; about 2 in 3 councils require one.
- No convictions policy required of Sefton operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- No age or emission limit for Sefton taxis, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- No age or emission limit for Sefton private hire vehicles, as in about 1 in 6 councils.
- Fewer booking details required: Sefton asks operators to record 9 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out main destination and name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2024, by Sefton's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Sefton grant?
80 new, 7 renewed; 110 in force (103 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How many private hire operators are there in Sefton?
110 at 1 April 2026, 103 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] Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council: official website (taxi and private hire licensing) (read 8 Nov 2026)
