Black cabs, minicabs and apps

Getting around the UK by taxi or minicab involves understanding three distinct options: licensed hackney carriages (black cabs), private hire vehicles (minicabs), and app-based services. Each has different rules about how you book them, whether they're legal to flag down, and how much they typically cost.

Hackney carriages: the black cab you can flag down

Hackney carriages are the iconic yellow or black licensed taxis you see on UK streets. The main advantage is that they are the only type of taxi you can hail directly from the street or pick up at a designated taxi rank. You do not need to book them in advance.

Every hackney carriage driver must be licensed by their local council. These drivers have passed background checks and comply with safety standards. The vehicle itself carries a visible licence plate—typically yellow in colour outside London, and they usually have an illuminated 'TAXI' roof sign.

Hackney carriages operate on regulated, metered fares. In London, a typical black cab journey within central London costs between £9 and £42 depending on distance and time of day. The base fare is usually around £4.40, plus approximately £4 per mile. Fares vary by region—outside London, expect rates between £1.50 and £2.50 per mile on average. Black cab fares are fixed by the licensing authority and cannot be negotiated.

Night-time fares are higher. In London, Tariff 2 applies from 20:00 (8 pm) and charges roughly 20–25% above daytime rates, while Tariff 3 from 22:00 (10 pm) goes higher still. Because the meter runs continuously, heavy traffic increases the cost even on short journeys.

Minicabs and private hire vehicles: always pre-book

Private hire vehicles (minicabs) are saloon cars, people carriers, or estate cars that cannot be flagged down on the street. By law, they must be pre-booked through a licensed operator. You cannot hail one—you have to arrange the journey in advance by phone, website, or app.

Every minicab driver and vehicle must be licensed by the local council (or Transport for London if operating in London). The operator who takes your booking must also hold a licence. These checks ensure drivers are 'fit and proper persons' who have passed criminal record checks and safety assessments.

Checking a minicab driver is licensed

Before getting in, check the vehicle's rear licence plate. Private hire vehicle plates are typically blue (the exact colour varies slightly by council). The plate displays the vehicle registration number, licence number, maximum passenger capacity, and licence expiry date. Licensed vehicles must display this plate at all times.

Drivers should carry a photo ID badge issued by the licensing authority. If you are unsure whether a driver is licensed, ask to see their badge or ask the operator to verify before the journey. In London, you can check a driver or vehicle at the Transport for London licence checker online.

App-based services: Uber, Bolt, and others

Uber, Bolt, and similar apps operate as private hire services, which means journeys must be pre-booked through the app—you cannot flag these vehicles down in the street. All drivers and vehicles using these platforms are licensed by the local council or Transport for London. When you request a ride, you receive an estimated fare before confirming.

Uber and Bolt are widely available in major UK cities, particularly London. Bolt is a European competitor that has grown rapidly since 2023. Other options include Free Now (which connects to both black cabs and private hire cars) and local minicab firms that offer their own apps. Coverage and availability depend on your location—outside major cities, local minicab firms are often your only option.

App fares and surge pricing

App-based fares are not fixed; they use dynamic pricing that changes based on demand, traffic conditions, and time of day. A standard UberX ride within central London averages £12–£18 for journeys under 5 miles, but longer trips or peak-hour surges can push prices to £30 or more.

Surge pricing kicks in during high-demand periods: late nights (especially after midnight when few drivers are working), weekend evenings, and bad weather. A surge multiplier of 1.5x can easily add £10 to a journey. During busy periods like Halloween or New Year's Eve, passengers have reported surge multipliers that doubled or tripled the standard fare.

Bolt typically offers lower base fares and smaller surge multipliers than Uber. Free Now and Gett offer fixed pricing options and are popular for reliability during bad weather. Always review the estimated fare on the app before confirming your booking.

Cost comparison at a glance

• Black cab (hackney carriage): Regulated meter, no surge. London: £4–£4.40 base fare plus ~£4 per mile. Predictable, flat rate. Best for accuracy and no surprises.
• Minicab (private hire): Negotiable before booking, no surge. Varies by operator and location. Often competitive with apps on regular hours.
• Uber/Bolt (app): Dynamic pricing with surge. London: base fare £1.50–£4.00, then per-mile or per-minute charges. Can be much cheaper than black cabs at quiet times, much more expensive during peak demand.
• Long journeys (e.g. airport transfers): Booking a minicab in advance usually locks in a fixed price and avoids surge pricing.

Safety and common sense

All licensed taxis and private hire vehicles in the UK undergo safety inspections and their drivers pass background checks. When using an app, GPS tracking and in-app emergency buttons add an extra layer of security. Black cabs offer the reassurance of a metered, transparent fare system with no hidden charges.

Always note the vehicle registration number before getting in and share your trip details with a friend if travelling alone, especially at night. For journeys in bad weather or late at night, pre-booked services (minicabs or black cabs) are often more reliable than app-based options, which may see reduced driver availability during surges.