Key facts
- Licensing authority
- City of Wolverhampton Council
- Vehicles, 1 April 2026
- 116 taxis (116 wheelchair accessible), 37,967 private hire[1]
- Licences held
- 52,378 drivers, 515 operators[1]
- Per 1,000 residents
- 135.41 vehicles (England: 5.84)[1]
- Private hire driver licence, 1 year / 3 years (from 1 April 2026)
- £78 / £156[3]
How many taxis and private hire vehicles are licensed in Wolverhampton?
The biggest change since April 2024 is in private hire vehicles: 29,173 then, 37,967 now. With 135.41 licensed vehicles per 1,000 residents, Wolverhampton sits above the England figure of 5.84. 100% of its taxis are wheelchair accessible.[1]
| 2024 | 2026 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxis | 145 | 116 | down 20% |
| Private hire vehicles | 29,173 | 37,967 | up 30% |
| Driver licences | 42,843 | 52,378 | up 22% |
| Operator licences | 419 | 515 | up 23% |
How does licensing in Wolverhampton differ from other councils?
Wolverhampton differs from most councils on 2 points in its 2026 return to the DfT. On vehicles, taxis and private hire vehicles face an age limit, and drivers must carry out daily roadworthiness checks.[1]
- No knowledge test for Wolverhampton private hire drivers, as in about 2 in 5 councils.
- Policy last updated: 2025, by Wolverhampton's own account to the DfT.
What did Wolverhampton report about operator licences?
94 new Wolverhampton operator applications, 191 renewals, with 515 operator licences in force on 1 April 2026, in City of Wolverhampton Council's 2026 return to the DfT. See what Wolverhampton operators must record.[1]
How much does a taxi licence cost in Wolverhampton?
From City of Wolverhampton Council's fee page, read 02/11/2026.[3]
| Licence or charge | Fee |
|---|---|
| Private hire driver licence, 1 year / 3 years (from 1 April 2026) | £78 / £156 |
| Small operator (no more than 4 drivers and vehicles), 1 year / 5 years | £250 / £750 |
| Operator, 1 year / 5 years | £750 / £3,000 |
| New operator (a first licence is granted for 1 year only) | £1,000 |
Driver fees from the council's Spring 2026 newsletter; operator fees from its June 2026 operator licensing guide.[3][4]
Why are so many private hire drivers licensed in Wolverhampton?
Wolverhampton licensed 37,967 private hire vehicles on 1 April 2026: 135 per 1,000 residents, against 4.95 across England, and more driver licences (52,378) than any council outside London. Its drivers can work across England, because there are currently no geographic limits on private hire journeys while operator, driver and vehicle share one licensing authority.[1][2][6]
What does Wolverhampton licensing mean for operators in other towns?
To dispatch Wolverhampton-licensed drivers and vehicles directly, an operator needs a Wolverhampton operator licence, because the three licences must come from the same authority. Operators can also pass a booking to an operator licensed by another council, in London or in Scotland under section 55A of the 1976 Act.[2][5]
Is the law on out-of-area working changing?
Partly. The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026 provides for national standards for taxi and private hire licences and lets an enforcement officer suspend a licence when the vehicle is driven in their area, even if another authority issued it. On legislation.gov.uk those sections were marked prospective (not yet in force) when we checked on 2 November 2026.[7]
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Wolverhampton driver licence?
Private hire driver licence, 1 year / 3 years (from 1 April 2026): £78 / £156, according to City of Wolverhampton 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] City of Wolverhampton Council: Taxi and Private Hire Newsletter, Spring 2026 (driver fees from 1 April 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [4] City of Wolverhampton Council: Operator Licensing guide (June 2026) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [5] legislation.gov.uk: Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976, section 55A (sub-contracting by operators) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [6] Transport for London: London taxi and private hire cross border hiring (proposals paper) (read 2 Nov 2026)
- [7] legislation.gov.uk: English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act 2026, Part 2 Chapter 6 (licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles) (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 London
- Taxi and private hire licensing in Birmingham