Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in South Tyneside?
451 vehicles in 2026 against 497 in 2024: taxis 236 → 236, private hire 261 → 215; 2.98 per 1,000 residents; 12% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 236 | 236 | about the same as in 2024 |
| Private hire vehicles | 261 | 215 | down 18% |
| Driver licences | 498 | 465 | down 7% |
| Operator licences | 14 | 17 | up 21% |
How does South Tyneside compare with other councils in the North East?
Among councils in the North East, South Tyneside ranks 5th of 12 for vehicles per head (2.98 per 1,000, median 2.65). It ranks 9th for operators (17, median 30).[1]
| Measure | South Tyneside | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 2.98 | 2.65 | 5th of 12 |
| Operator licences | 17 | 30 | 9th of 12 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 13 | 16 | 7th of 12 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 12% | 13% | 7th of 12 |
What does the South Tyneside market look like for an operator?
South Tyneside's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 52% taxis, 48% private hire of 451 vehicles: rank and street hails matter.
- 13 PHVs per operator on average (215 across 17 licences).
- 1 drivers per vehicle (465 for 451).
- 86% dual-licensed drivers, 53 PHV-only, 12 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 South Tyneside differ from other councils?
5 departures from the usual rules in South Tyneside's DfT return. Vehicles: taxis and private hire vehicles face both an age limit and an emission standard.[1]
- Taxi numbers capped: South Tyneside limits hackney carriage licences (236 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- No English test for South Tyneside drivers, as in about 1 in 5 councils.
- No convictions policy required of South Tyneside operators for their staff; about 3 in 5 councils require one.
- Fewer booking details required: South Tyneside asks operators to record 10 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2024, by South Tyneside's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does South Tyneside grant?
3 new, 10 renewed; 17 in force (14 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
Frequently asked questions
How many private hire operators are there in South Tyneside?
17 at 1 April 2026, 14 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] South Tyneside Council: official website (taxi and private hire licensing) (read 8 Nov 2026)
