Key facts
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Wirral?
The biggest change since April 2024 is in taxis: 202 then, 136 now. With 3.28 licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents, Wirral sits below the England figure of 5.84. 100% of its taxis are wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 202 | 136 | down 33% |
| Private hire vehicles | 858 | 944 | up 10% |
| Driver licences | 1,478 | 1,445 | down 2% |
| Operator licences | 87 | 118 | up 36% |
How does licensing in Wirral differ from other councils?
Wirral differs from most councils on 4 points in its 2026 return to the DfT. On vehicles, taxis and private hire vehicles face an emission standard.[1]
- Wirral taxi drivers sit no knowledge test; about 85% of councils test them.
- No knowledge test for Wirral private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- Fewer booking details required: Wirral asks operators to record 10 of the 12 details councils ask for, leaving out name of booker and name of dispatchers.
- Policy last updated: 2025, by Wirral's own account to the DfT.
What did Wirral report about operator licences?
20 new Wirral operator applications, 11 renewals, with 118 operator licences in force on 1 April 2026, in Wirral Council's 2026 return to the DfT. See what Wirral operators must record.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Wirral?
From Wirral Council's fee page, read 02/11/2026.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Driver application fee / DBS application fee | £125 / £53.50 |
| Driver licence: 3 years / 1 year | £187 / £75 |
| Vehicle licence, grant / renewal (1 year) | £192 / £187 |
| Vehicle licence, grant / renewal (6 months, older vehicles) | £105 / £100 |
| Operator (5 years): 1 vehicle / 2-10 / 11-50 / 51+ | £528 / £934 / £1,177 / £1,419 |
Wirral Council fees page, read 2 November 2026. Private hire vehicles move to 6-month licences at 8 years old, hackney carriages at 11.[3]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Wirral driver licence?
Driver application fee / DBS application fee: £125 / £53.50, according to Wirral 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] Wirral Council: Private hire and hackney carriage licence fees (read 2 Nov 2026)
Related
- Taxi licence costs across UK councils
- Private hire operator licence explained
- Taxi knowledge test: what councils test
- 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