Key facts
- Licensing authority
- Thanet District Council
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 88 taxis (5 wheelchair accessible), 526 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 725 drivers, 64 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 4.3 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Private hire driver licence renewal, total including medical and criminal record checks (from 1 April 2026)
- £275.80[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Thanet?
614 vehicles in 2026 against 587 in 2024: taxis 100 → 88, private hire 487 → 526; 4.3 per 1,000 residents; 6% of taxis wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 100 | 88 | down 12% |
| Private hire vehicles | 487 | 526 | up 8% |
| Driver licences | 625 | 725 | up 16% |
| Operator licences | 55 | 64 | up 16% |
How does Thanet compare with other councils in the South East?
Among councils in the South East, Thanet ranks 15th of 64 for vehicles per head (4.3 per 1,000, median 2.23). It ranks 23rd for operators (64, median 51).[1]
| Measure | Thanet | Regional median | Rank (highest = 1st) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicles per 1,000 residents | 4.3 | 2.23 | 15th of 64 |
| Operator licences | 64 | 51 | 23rd of 64 |
| Private hire vehicles per operator | 8 | 4 | 13th of 64 |
| Wheelchair-accessible taxis | 6% | 14% | 48th of 64 |
What does the Thanet market look like for an operator?
Thanet's own DfT 2026 figures, worked out per operator and per vehicle.[1]
- 14% taxis, 86% private hire of 614 vehicles: pre-booked work dominates.
- 8 PHVs per operator on average (526 across 64 licences).
- 1.2 drivers per vehicle (725 for 614).
- 0% dual-licensed drivers, 608 PHV-only, 117 taxi-only.
- Majority further from a major town or city (DfT area class).
- 8 booking details to record per job (booking records).
How does licensing in Thanet differ from other councils?
3 departures from the usual rules in Thanet's DfT return. 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: Thanet limits hackney carriage licences (88 in April 2026); about 1 in 4 councils do.
- Fewer booking details required: Thanet asks operators to record 8 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out name of driver and vehicle registration number and name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2025, by Thanet's own account to the DfT.
How many operator licences does Thanet grant?
10 new, 0 renewed; 64 in force (55 in 2024). Operator rules.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Thanet?
From Thanet District 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 |
|---|---|
| Private hire driver licence renewal, total including medical and criminal record checks (from 1 April 2026) | £275.80 |
| Driver badge | £20.80 |
| Enhanced DBS check | £41.00 |
Thanet District Council: Renew your private hire driver's licence, read 08/11/2026.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Thanet driver licence?
Private hire driver licence renewal, total including medical and criminal record checks (from 1 April 2026): £275.80, according to Thanet District Council's fee page, read 08/11/2026.
How many private hire operators are there in Thanet?
64 at 1 April 2026, 55 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] Thanet District Council: Renew your private hire driver's licence (read 8 Nov 2026)
